What is Emotional Intelligence?

According to help guide, emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive and healthy ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict. Emotional intelligence helps you into building stronger relationships, succeed at school and work, and achieve your career and personal goals. 

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is commonly defined by four characteristics: 

1. Self-Awareness – Self-awareness is being aware of your emotional feelings and how they affect your mood and behaviour. Also, being aware of your strengths and weaknesses. 
2. Self-Management – Managing and balancing your feelings, emotions and behaviours in healthy ways is known as self-management
3. Social Awareness – Social awareness is having empathy towards others and understanding their emotions and needs. 
4. Relationship Management – Maintaining good relationships with people around you by minimising conflict, communicating clearly and inspiring others to work well is called relationship management. 

“Well, if I talk about the scenario related to emotional intelligence I would like to share how a friend of mine became my personal diary when I was suffering from personal family issues. I was in grade 7th and the situation of the family was not really good as we were having a major financial crisis. My dad was the sole earner for the whole family and it was pretty difficult for us to survive as the business faced a huge loss that year. I was not able to be vocal about this to anyone. I had been feeling anxious and low all time which was pretty visible over my face and my activities. I couldn’t focus on my studies and other stuff. Also, my mental peace was unhealthy at that time and I used to feel broken from inside as we were helpless. My family asked help from people but no one came forward. However, I had a friend in my class who was really kind and generous. She actually talked to me about it and gave me a safe space where I could put my thoughts forward. So, I was literally comfortable with her and told her about everything that me and my family had been facing. So, she tried to console me and helped me to get out of the trauma that I was living in. So, here she helped me to get aware of my own self and helped me with every possible thing she could at that time. This was one of the best experiences where I could find the emotional intelligence of an individual. Also, I think this was both a positive and a negative experience for me. As, I faced both the sides of the coin. However, the result was pretty cool and we managed to get out of the trauma and issues that we were facing.”

This was the story of a friend of mine who had shared his experience with me. I am sure there must be people around you who don’t have anyone to share their thoughts or problems. Try talking to someone who might seem a little upset. Even if you don’t solve their issue, listening to them might just make a change. If these thoughts are left inside to build up, they might cause mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, bipolar etc. It’s a tough world out there, so the least we all can do is be there for each other and try to make a change. Mental health is just as important, if not more important than physical well being.