One of the articles by PhD, Susan Whitborne of Psychology Today spoke of a pop culture character, Forest Gump. On paper, his IQ test scores were probably below average, but then how does he end up leading such a fulfilling and magnanimous life? And then how does a super high IQ scoring individual end up faltering in their lives? Welcome the notion of EI.
What exactly is emotional intelligence (EI)? Psychology Today says it’s:
- The ability to accurately identify your own emotions, as well as those of others
- The ability to utilize emotions and apply them to tasks, like thinking and problem-solving
- The ability to manage emotions, including controlling your own, as well as the ability to cheer up or calm down another person
American Psychologist, Daniel Goleman developed a framework of the five elements that define Emotional Intelligence. They are:
- Self Awareness
- Self Regulation
- Motivation
- Empathy
- Social Skills
Why are these five elements so important in our intimate relationships as well as professional relationships? Rhett Power shares his awareness in the Aug, 2017 issue of Success magazine. “If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.”
I invite you to begin playing with these concepts in your life and if you are interested in more information there are actually activities you can do to increase your EI. Cheers to this ever changing journey my friends!
May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude,
Sarah