What the Heck is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence, something we should all have but a lot of us don’t. What is emotional intelligence? This is the ability to understand, use and manage your own emotions in a positive way to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict (Segal, Shubin, Smith, & Robinson, 2019). Emotional intelligence helps build stronger relationships, succeed at work, achieve career and personal goals (Segal, Shubin, Smith, & Robinson, 2019).  

It is commonly defined using four attributes  

1. Self-management  
   
2. Self-awareness 
   
3. Social-awareness 
   
4. Relationship management   
   

If developed at an early age these attributes can help and individual become successful in all ways of life. In many ways' emotions are ignored, when they should in fact be nurtured. A 2019 study focusing on the objective of analyzing how emotions (emotional intelligence and emotional state) can influence the resilience and motivation of adolescents, as well as their academic performance and adoption of healthy lifestyle habits (Trigueros et al., 2019). The results of this study showed that positive emotions have a positive relationship with both self-motivation toward physical activity and resilience (Trigueros et al., 2019). Resilience positively predicted self-motivation and self-motivation acts as a predictor to both academic performance and regular participation in physical activity (Trigueros et al., 2019). 

The study explained above shows us the importance of developing emotional intelligence. Instilling this intelligence at a young age will influence a child to make good rational decision when it comes to their health. Having emotional intelligence means that you can recognize your own emotions on a topic, you are able to manage those feeling accordingly, you can understand how others around you may feel and build stronger relationships because you understand all part of the puzzle.  

Emotional intelligence is what helps us manage every day stress, stress during exam season, or an epidemic. We all know the negative affect that stress has on our health (increase blood pressure, decrease immunity, greater risk of cardiovascular disease). The higher our emotional intelligence the better we can deal with all situations thrown our way. It can help you navigate through complex social situations. Emotional intelligence also plays a large role in our mental health, uncontrolled emotions can lead to anxiety and depression. 

All this is said, I don’t think that emotional intelligence is talked about enough. I believe that emotional intelligence is a critical part of being a human being. Take this scenario for example: Kid A steals kid B’s toy. Kid B has some options here. With a lack thereof emotional intelligence he won't understand why kid A stole it, he would be angry and upset, possibly even hit the kid A and start crying because he is unable to regulate his emotions. OR in this same scenario kid B may feel angry and upset but he is able to manage these emotions and communicate them in an effective way. Kid B explains to Kid A that stealing his toy upset him; he would like to understand the reason why kid A took his toy.  

What a beautiful world we would live in if we all shared a high level of emotional intelligence! Set the future leaders of the world on the right path. Nurture and develop their emotional intelligence because you never know maybe one day, he will be prime minister haha!  

 

Segal, J., Shubin, J., Smith, M., & Robinson, L. (2019, October). Improving Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Retrieved May 25, 2020, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/emotional-intelligence-eq.htm 

Trigueros, R., Aguilar-Parra, J. M., Cangas, A. J., Bermejo, R., Ferrandiz, C., & López-Liria, R. (2019). Influence of Emotional Intelligence, Motivation and Resilience on Academic Performance and the Adoption of Healthy Lifestyle Habits among Adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(16), 2810. doi:10.3390/ijerph16162810 

 

 

Yours truly, 

Meg