Why Cultivating Emotional Intelligence Is Important
Any one-size-fits-all measurement is bound to have its limits. For example, when contemplating a barometer for something like intelligence, a lot of context must be considered. There’s a huge difference between solving a complicated math problem and knowing how to regulate your emotions, but both can display a certain type of intelligence.
But there’s a catch. Very few people will have to do challenging math once they leave high school. Everyone — literally everyone — will have innumerable times in their lives when emotional regulation is crucial. It can improve the quality of their lives and the lives of those around them. This is why cultivating emotional intelligence (EI) is so important.
How Do You Know If You Have High EI?
Generally, people with low emotional intelligence will frequently feel overwhelmed by their emotions and quickly get upset. They will complain about being misunderstood but lack the skills to be more assertive to remedy this situation.
Conversely, people with high EI will:
Galvanize others in efforts that require a common goal
Stay cool, all, and collected when stress rears its ugly head
Work to remain aware of how their emotions and behaviors are connected
Employ tact and patience when interacting with people they find to be difficult
The above four outcomes are obviously important. So, let’s explore a little deeper why EI is so essential for everyone.
More Reasons Why Cultivating Emotional Intelligence Is Important
Health Benefits
The higher your emotional intelligence, the more you benefit your overall well-being. If stress is left unchecked, it can contribute to physical issues ranging from high blood pressure to heart attacks and beyond. EI is a powerful tool for managing stress.
In terms of mental health, uncontrolled emotions increase your risk of being diagnosed with conditions like anxiety and depression. You may also struggle with personal interactions. This can negatively impact your relationships and leave you feeling isolated and lonely.
Speaking of Relationships
Someone capable of assessing and controlling their emotions is typically better at articulating those feelings. This attribute enhances your communication skills, which, in turn, lays a strong foundation for the creation of enduring, trustworthy bonds with other people. This is often viewed as a subset of EI called social intelligence.
Social intelligence gives you a strong sense of who to trust and how to allocate your social energy. These skills can result in much higher levels of communication, respect, and emotional balance — with others and yourself.
More Accomplishments at Work, School, etc.
Negotiating your way through environments like a workplace requires emotional intelligence (EI). The ingredient increases your odds of being well-liked, a motivator, and a person of success. We have reached a point in the working world where many companies use emotional intelligence as an important variable when choosing between potential candidates.
How to Gain and Maintain Emotional Intelligence
Name Your Feelings and Your Triggers: Keeping a journal can effectively monitor emotions and what triggers them. Information like this enables you to better prepare for life’s ups and downs.
Be Willing to Accept Help: Asking for input is a sign of strength. In the case of EI, speaking with trusted friends and family members can be quite enlightening to get an honest appraisal of how they perceive you.
Be a Reader. Research has found that reading widely (particularly fiction) gives us insights into how complex characters think and behave.
Cultivating emotional intelligence is often a goal of therapy. Working one-on-one with a skilled professional is an ideal setting for learning the tools and skills that can enrich your life and allow you to take a deep dive into your potential. Reach out to learn more about Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace and how it can help you.
