Why Emotional Intelligence Is The Thing You Need Right Now

Often we notice the term ‘Emotional Intelligence’ being used in common parlance. It won’t be surprising if it is soon included as a subject or a course in many medical schools/universities and probably B-schools too. Well, emotional intelligence is that aspect of life that must be prioritized and practiced. This is because having a better EQ level not only helps you cope with your personal life better but also helps in understanding things and making better connections in your professional life.

Emotions And Emotional Intelligence

Let’s look at the real stuff now! ‘Emotional Intelligence’ is said to be the ability to cope with emotions of oneself as well as understanding emotions of other people, to better empathize with them and get better control over your emotions under any circumstances or situation. In today’s time, the growing complexities between personal and professional lives in terms of work and relationships may result in people being misled under the garb of emotions. Sometimes, situational circumstances are such that we are not able to gauge the other person at all. This is the reason why we sometimes feel lost or empty in spite of everything being seemingly well in our life. This isn’t anybody’s mistake but purely lack emotional skills or intelligence causing disruptive moods and indecisiveness.

But here we need to hold on for a minute, some of u would think in order to become successful at every work, why do we need emotions? It is one of the issues that will be holding us back in this race of life right? Intelligence, Smartness, Formation of Realistic Goals, Clarity of Vision, Focus, and Planning are all the qualities to become successful, so why do we need Emotional Quotient (E.Q.)?

Along with planning goals, vision, and smartness, it’s true that you can achieve success but your emotional quotient is the foundation of all these things. ‘Emotions’ is that essential key that could make us or lack of awareness about this could even break us.

We all are responsible and want to be committed to our personal or professional life. For doing so, having a better emotional quotient could be a game changer in your life.

What Is The Reason Behind Prolonged Mood Swings?

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Today’s research shows that every 7 out of 10 children specifically teenagers or early adults suffer from depressive moods and anxiety due to many reasons, which leads to their condition of isolation and not only from the people but literally isolating the space in their brains making them conscious about their self-image. Any failure or rejection has a deeper impact on people with low emotional skills. If within time, we aren’t able to manage our emotions well or aren’t self-aware of our emotional health,
we may give rise to mood swings lasting for longer periods. This may lead to others misconstruing us as ‘mentally weak’. Naturally, we don’t ever want that to happen. This kind of situation may also lead to altered mental health and impact our life adversely.

When Moods And Emotions Are Like The ‘Heart-Beats’ On A Ventilator/ECG Machine!

We all have mood swings at different moments, and it’s absolutely normal. As many health experts and psychologists suggest that negative emotions comprising of anger, frustration, fear, should be confronted just like our positive emotions to maintain the balance for emotional health. Physical, as well as internal mechanism, provides good reasons for mood swings and related emotions like heartbeats or unstable lines on the ECG machine. Just imagine the more the variation in our emotional status, the higher are the chances of manifestation of unusual behaviours.

Emotional Intelligence And Emotional Resilience

Emotional intelligence means managing self-emotions and also understanding and taking into account the emotions of others. Emotional Resilience, on the other hand, is about adapting well and managing those emotions creating stress or discontentment. Emotional Resilience can be developed by anyone wanting to manage their emotions and have to practice emotional hygiene on a regular basis.

A broad understanding of emotional intelligence can be done through:

• Self-Awareness
  It is the basic action which is taken during the phase of emotion management. In order to become emotionally strong, one should be aware of the emotions which he/she is going through the moment.
• Self-Regulation
  Once you become aware or conscious of the emotion generated inside you,
  you have to translate it into good behaviour and manage it so that it won’t over-ride you.
• Empathy
  When you’ll start working on how you feel and what you feel, it would help shape your thoughts and behaviour in a better way by thinking about the other person’s perspective as well.
• Establishing deep connections
  This feeling of empathy helps in creating deeper connections with others and you can work better in complex situations.

Being emotionally stable and resilient about your actions are interconnected which indirectly ignites the cognitive and intellectual capabilities that help you to form a response for the emotion.

The Disadvantage Of Not Having Emotional Skills

Once we are aware of our own actions and behaviours, we take responsibility for the same. When we lack emotional skills, we are also oblivious of our own emotions. This is a state of ‘Self Deception’. This happens unconsciously. However, we do end up getting into this state when we yearn for appreciation from others. This could lead to pleasing others but not pleasing ourselves and ending up feeling miserable.

Practicing Emotional Resilience Could Make Your Emotional Status Better!

Building emotional resilience comes from creating strong emotional hygiene. This means improving your communication, behaviours and self-awareness in order to extract favourable responses through your own behaviour. Here are some proactive ways to deal with your emotions, as inspired by Dr Guy Winch, a psychologist:

‘Failure’ or ‘Rejection’ is not the end of life. If you have felt this, then it is time to change your perception. Weave in optimism in your mind by telling your self that something better awaits you.

Feeling empty, disheartened and pathetic, when alone? At this time take note of your feelings and divert your attention by taking some action to get rid of loneliness.

It is so true that we can’t stop negative thoughts from coming into our head but not letting these sabotage our mental health is our own responsibility. This is one of the important parts of maintaining emotional hygiene.

I am sure there are many people and many reasons that can shatter your confidence and esteem. So it’s totally up to you on how you keep your self-esteem intact and prevent irrelevant thoughts from intruding. Start with Self Acceptance.

Why The Concept of ‘Self’ Will Rule?

In the coming years relationships and technology are going to take a big turn, and having intelligent minds with no deep connections and communication could make you vulnerable to this dynamic world. Giving importance to ‘self’ is the key to being content. Make space for self-help, self-practice, self-acceptance, self-centred, self-motivation and even self-worth.

The positive “self” is good in outcomes and perceptions, but ‘Self-centered’ and ‘Self-Obsession’ has arisen due to lack of feeling of acceptance amongst others and lack of communication, all stemming from low EQ.

The Bottom Line

The concept of self is acceptable and works when the purpose is good, otherwise, it can give rise to pessimism.

The only way to build mental health and form meaningful relationships is to practice emotional hygiene. Start with small steps. Try to be aware of your moods and emotions and take responsibility of your own well being.

Let us start as soon as possible and be the leader of our life and most importantly our emotional health.

Image Source: Pixabay

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