How is your emotional intelligence?
We often renovate our homes, change our hair color, and update our wardrobes. But have you ever considered giving your emotional intelligence a makeover? According to Harvard research, only 10% of success comes from a person’s IQ, while a staggering 90% is attributed to emotional intelligence (EQ).
Studio 5 Relationship Contributor Dr. Matt Townsend explained that emotional intelligence is “your ability to recognize, manage, feel for others, explore, and enroll them into emotion.” It’s about mastering the emotional side of life, which is crucial for happiness in family, life, and work. The best part? It’s totally teachable.
Signs You Need an Emotional Makeover
Matt listed five signs that indicate you might need to revamp your EQ:
- Difficulty Understanding Your Own Emotions
If you or someone you know has trouble understanding their own emotions, it might be time for a change. “One of the first keys to emotional intelligence is becoming really aware of your emotions,” said Matt. Recognizing and naming your emotions can help you gain control over them.
- Difficulty Managing Emotions
People with low emotional intelligence often react strongly and struggle to manage their emotions during arguments. They might escalate situations or avoid emotional conversations altogether. Matt advised, “Once you’re self-aware, you can start to regulate. You can’t regulate something you don’t know.”
- Lack of Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Matt emphasized, “If I’m empathic, I can actually get into your story, hear what you’re feeling, and go there with you.” Growing empathy involves listening more and being curious about others’ experiences.
- Relationship Struggles
Emotional intelligence plays a significant role in relationships. Those with low EQ might offend others easily and struggle to connect. Matt noted, “Empathy shows I care, and then I can use social skills to tell you what we could do about it and fix it.”
- Difficulty Staying Motivated
People with low emotional intelligence often lack deep inner purpose and struggle with consistent motivation. They might blame others for their lack of action or only get motivated at the last minute. Matt highlighted the importance of self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social grace, and motivation in building emotional intelligence.
How to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence
Improving your EQ is possible and can lead to better relationships and personal success. Matt suggested reading books, attending workshops, and practicing self-awareness and empathy. “If you’ve got any relationship issue going on, don’t just call them a narcissist. Get into emotional intelligence.”
Find more advice from Matt at matttownsend.com.
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