Emotional Intelligence is a skill that can be learned and mastered. Ultimately, it is the foundation for your emotional health and wellbeing.
We all have emotions, although at times we may try to hide or deny them, but the true mark of health in this segment of our wellbeing is being able to manage those emotions.
This is a multi-faceted concept, so let’s break it down:
What Causes Your Emotions?
The first step in improving your emotional intelligence is being able to identify the situations that cause you to feel a certain way. Easier said than done, in my opinion.
If you’re having a bad day, there’s usually more to it than just waking up on the wrong side of the bed; making the effort to learn the true reasons behind your emotions is essential to managing them.
Especially in this context, consistency is key. For a week or so, plan on keeping a journal (or even a note on your phone), where you record what you’re feeling throughout the day. Additionally, attempt to name a specific trigger that may have caused those emotions.
It’s true that someone with good emotional health doesn’t allow their circumstances to have a significant impact on their mood, but it’s pointless to pretend that the things that happen throughout your day do not have an impact.
For this exercise, be completely honest with yourself on what’s bothering you, even if you think it shouldn’t be a big deal.
How Do You Manage Your Emotions?
Once you understand what affects your mood, you will be better able to manage your emotional response. Below are several strategies you can begin implementing as you train your emotional intelligence:
Take deep breaths
Create a peaceful environment for yourself
Talk to someone you trust
Journal
Get some fresh air
Participate in physical activity
Find a strategy that works well for you, and implement it every time you find yourself in an emotionally-charged situation. Over time, managing your emotional response will become second nature!
Do You Understand Others’ Emotions?
The last factor that plays into emotional intelligence is your ability to read other people’s emotions and understand what may be causing them to feel that way.
While you should not take responsibility for other people’s feelings, it is still important to show empathy towards others. Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and truly understand their situation. This trait is essential for building relationships, leading a team, and communicating effectively.
Are you Emotionally Intelligent?
As with other factors that play into your health, emotional intelligence should be intentionally trained and implemented on a daily basis.
If you feel like you’re starting from square one on your emotional health, just remember that practice makes perfect, and even the most emotionally-fit people out there once started as beginners!