Last Updated on February 12, 2023 by Editors Desk
Emotional intelligence (or EQ for short) is the ability to identify, understand, and manage one’s emotions. It’s not just about being able to control your feelings; it’s about being aware of them in the first place. This article looks at seven things that happen when you develop your EQ. If you want to become smarter emotionally, read on!
You’re More Attuned to Your Emotions
When you’re not emotionally aware, you can’t “put a label on” your feelings. You can’t tell if you’re sad or if you’re just really tired. You’ll just be in a fog and not be able to figure out why. You might also “lose it” in public if you’re not careful. People might avoid you because they don’t know what you’re feeling or thinking. You won’t be able to put your feelings into words, and you’ll just end up overreacting or “freaking out” when you don’t need to.
You Have Better Rapport With Others
If you’re not emotionally aware, you’ll just blow up at people who don’t need to be yelled at. If someone cuts in front of you in line, for example, you might explode. Why? You won’t be able to tell if the person is just being impolite, or if they actually don’t realize they’ve done something wrong. You’ll blow up at the person, and they’ll be embarrassed or annoyed. This won’t end well. You have to be aware enough to notice if people are being rude or impolite without blowing up at them.
You’re More Creative
If you’re not emotionally aware, you’ll be too busy getting mad or upset to truly focus on creative pursuits. You’ll spend all your time being upset about whatever is on your mind right now, not really allowing yourself to “be” in the moment. You’ll miss opportunities to express yourself creatively. You won’t be able to truly “be” and create when you’re just “being negative.”
You Have Stronger Self-Confidence
Once you develop your EQ, you start to develop self-confidence. You’re probably already confident — you just need to be aware of it. If you’re not, you might be overconfident in certain situations but not in others. You might put on a smile in front of others even when you don’t feel confident because you don’t want to let anyone know that you feel weak. This isn’t healthy.
You Develop Better Relationships
When you’re not emotionally aware, you’ll blow relationships out of proportion. If someone cuts you off in traffic, for example, you might not just be annoyed. You might be “twisted up” with anger and resentment, which won’t lead to productive relationships. It’s okay to be annoyed at people, but it’s better to let it go. Let others know that you’re annoyed and don’t let it fester inside you.
You Stay Ahead of Negative Behaviours
When you’re not emotionally aware, you’ll just let things slide with negative behaviours. Maybe you’ll be late all the time. Maybe you’ll be rude to people. You’ll just let these things slide because you’re not aware of them. You have to be aware of your behaviour in order to change.
You Build A Smarter Body
When you’re not emotionally aware, you’ll just be in “survival mode.” You’ll just be “getting by.” You’re not going to get as much exercise, because you don’t care enough to make the time for it. You’ll just be “getting from A to B” and not really “getting” anything out of it. If you want to build a smarter body, you have to be emotionally aware. You have to be aware of what you’re feeling and why. You have to take time for yourself so you don’t get “stuck” in survival mode. You have to be intentional about your emotional intelligence.
You’re More Flexible At Work
EQ is about being more flexible and less rigid. If you learn how to adapt your style depending on the person you’re working with, your communication improves and you’re more likely to be given more responsibility and be promoted. Many people are very rigid about what they believe in and how they should do things. This is true for both employees and employers.
But when you’re not as rigid, you’re more likely to be given the opportunity to expand your job and find out what you like to do. This is especially true in the workplace where the environment is often changing and there are many things that other people want you to do while you’re there. Being flexible and allowing yourself to grow at work is one of the best ways to show your bosses how you’d be good at more jobs within the organization.
You Learn From Mistakes
Mistakes are an important part of being human. It’s part of what makes us grow and become more confident. But if you’re not aware of them, mistakes will hold you back from advancing in your career. The key is to learn from them. That’s exactly what EQ is about. You have to realize that you made a mistake before you can correct it. When you don’t acknowledge your mistakes, you’re not learning from them. This is a big reason why some people never advance in their careers. They do the same mistakes over and over again and never learn from them. You have to realize when you made a mistake and take steps to correct it.
People Are More Likely To Recommend You
People are more likely to recommend you if you have a high EQ. They’re also more likely to interview you when you have a high EQ. The reason for this is that people with EQ can better understand and relate to others. So even when you have a problem, they can find a way to solve it. You can use this to your advantage in a number of ways. For example, if you’re facing a difficult situation at work, you can find a way to relate to your boss or colleagues. If you have a problem, someone else probably does too. Or if you want to be promoted, you can find a way to relate to other people.
Employees Are Better Team Players
When you understand and accept your emotions, you’re able to communicate well with others. And communication is key in a team environment. EQ helps you understand what the other people on your team are feeling and why they feel the way they do. And it helps you figure out how you can work with that. When employees have EQ, they’re better team players. They’re less likely to be an individual contributor and have more of a desire to work as part of a team. This can have a number of benefits. For example, it can help you get promoted and allow you to get more responsibility. It can help you get a raise when your contract is up. It can also help you find a new job if you need to move on with your career.
People Who Develop EQ Are More Creative
Research shows that the higher your EQ, the more creative you are. This doesn’t mean that the more creative you are, the higher your EQ is. It just means that EQ is correlated with creativity. EQ also plays a role in how open you are to new ideas and experiences. People with EQ are more likely to try new things, explore new ideas, and keep an open mind. And this can be a huge benefit in a career where you need to be open to new things. For example, if you work in a certain field, it’s important to stay open to new ideas and experiences. This can mean exploring different work environments, new hobbies, and new ways of doing things.
Final Thoughts
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize your emotions and understand other people’s feelings. It’s key to understanding people and keeping relationships healthy, so it’s worth cultivating. An emotionally intelligent person is also calmer in stressful situations and better able to handle change. If you want to become smarter emotionally, focus on being emotionally aware.
Notice your feelings and see where they’re coming from. You’ll be better at understanding your emotions and those of others, which will enable you to maintain better relationships, stay ahead of negative behaviours, and build a smarter body.
