Don’t Trust in your Own Emotions (Too Much)
One of the important signs of emotional intelligence is letting go of your first response, of your initial instinct to a situation.
Our first emotional response to a situation is usually instinctual, often based on past experiences and biases. However, this initial response may not always be the most accurate or appropriate response to a given situation. Therefore, emotional intelligence requires us to be cautious about trusting our emotions too much.
This does not mean that we should ignore our emotions. Emotions are a vital part of being human, and we have to acknowledge and honor them. However, emotional intelligence means that we need to take a step back and observe our emotions from a rational perspective. We can ask ourselves questions such as “Why am I feeling this way?” or “What triggered this response in me?” By doing so, we engage our rational brain system, which allows us to respond appropriately to the situation.
To illustrate this point, let us consider an example. Suppose you receive an email from a colleague criticizing your work. Your initial emotional response may be to feel hurt, angry, or defensive. However, if you react solely based on these emotions, you may send a reactive email that could harm your relationship with the colleague. Instead, emotional intelligence requires you to take a moment to pause, reflect, and respond calmly and professionally.
Emotional intelligence also means that we are aware of our emotions and can regulate them appropriately. For example, if we feel anxious or stressed, we can use techniques such as deep breathing or mindfulness to calm ourselves down. If we feel overwhelmed, we can take a break and practice self-care activities such as exercise or meditation.
In contrast, if we feel compelled to trust our first emotional response and react and act based on that, it is far from emotionally intelligent or emotionally mature behavior. When we act impulsively based on our emotions, we often make decisions that we regret later.
Therefore, emotional intelligence requires us to develop self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills. These skills help us navigate our emotions and respond appropriately to different situations. By practicing emotional intelligence, we can improve our relationships, make better decisions, and lead a fulfilling life.
Emotional intelligence is a critical component of success in various areas of life. One of the essential signs of emotional intelligence is not to trust our emotions too much. Emotional intelligence means that we engage our rational brain system, regulate our emotions appropriately, and respond calmly and vulnerably. By practicing emotional intelligence, we can improve our relationships, make better decisions, and lead a fulfilling life.
