How is your emotional intelligence? Let's talk about it simply!

We all talk about intelligence, don't we? If someone studies well, if they pass exams, we say, "Oh, he has a good brain." But did you know that IQ alone is not enough to be successful and happy in this world? There is another special intelligence, and that is emotional intelligence, or what we call it in English, ``Emotional Intelligence.''

When we say intelligence, is it just `IQ`?

You've probably heard people say things like, "Oh, I don't have to study that much, my `IQ` is pretty high." `IQ` stands for `(Intellectual Quotient)`. This is a measure of a person's ability to learn and reason . It can tell you to some extent how well they will do in school and university. However, `IQ` is not the only thing that measures our abilities. Just think, how many other talents are there in this world?

• There are some people who are incredibly good at thinking in three dimensions (spatial intelligence) , like architects and painters.
• For others , musical intelligence is something that is innate. They have an amazing ability to recognize rhythm, melody, and pitch.
• Likewise, athletic ability, artistic ability, industrial ability... these are all different types of intellectual abilities.

So, among these, there is another special intelligence that is very important in our lives, but that we sometimes don't take into account. That is emotional intelligence, or ``Emotional Intelligence'' .

So what is this mental intelligence? (Emotional Intelligence - EQ)

Simply put, `(Emotional Intelligence)` is our ability to understand, use, and manage our emotions . Some call this `EQ` (Emotional Quotient), while others call it `EI` (Emotional Intelligence). Just as a person with a high `IQ` scores high on exams, a person with a high `EQ` is very successful in social relationships and emotional situations. Think of it this way, having a good `EQ` is like "being able to understand people, being good at living with people" . When we talk to someone, when we work, if we can understand them and be good with them, it will be a great help to be successful in all aspects of life. In fact, some studies have shown that `EQ` is sometimes more important than `IQ` to do well in school and to succeed in a job.

Do you have a lot of good friends? Is it easy for you to understand other people's problems? Can you control your anger? All of these are related to your ` EQ` .

Some people are born with these `EQ` abilities. But for others , they need to be trained and developed. The good news is that everyone can improve it! Unlike `IQ`, `EQ` is something we can work on and improve little by little. But, you have to know what to do with it, right?

How do you increase your emotional intelligence (EQ)?

Emotional intelligence, or `EQ`, is not one thing. It is a combination of several different abilities. Let's take a look at what they are and how to develop them.

1. Be aware of your own emotions.

How many different emotions do we all experience throughout the day? Some emotions (like surprise) are fleeting and fleeting, while others (like happiness and sadness) linger in our minds for a while, shaping our mood. Being able to identify and label these everyday emotions is the most important part of EQ. Being aware of our emotions in this way – that is, simply thinking, “Oh, I feel this way right now, don’t I?” – helps us to control our own emotions. It also helps us to understand how other people are feeling. But some people, even after a day, don’t seem to care about what they’re feeling. Try to recognize an emotion as soon as you feel it. Give it a name in your mind (for example, “I feel so grateful right now,” “I feel so frustrated right now”). Make this a daily habit. After a while, you will realize how aware you are of your feelings.

2. Try to understand the feelings of others (Empathy)

We are all born with the ability to understand other people. Another important part of EQ is the ability to imagine how other people might feel at a given moment. And also, to understand why they feel that way. Even when we don't know how someone is really feeling, we call it empathy . This empathy helps us care about others, build good friendships, and relationships. It is this empathy that guides us in what to say to someone when they are feeling badly, and how to behave in front of them. Imagine, your friend is sad after failing an exam. You may not feel that sadness 100%. But if you can think, "How would I feel if I were in this situation?", understand their sadness, and say a comforting word to them, that is a skill in EQ.

3. Control your emotions and respond appropriately.

We all get angry. We all get frustrated. It's important to express what we think and feel at times. But managing your response means knowing when, where, and how to express your emotions. If you understand your emotions and know how to control them, you can develop self-control.If the time is not right to express that feeling, stop the response. A person with good EQ knows that responding to their feelings in a disrespectful, unreasonable, harsh, or hurtful way can damage their relationships. For example, imagine that you are angry with your boss at the office. Is it right to immediately yell, slam the door, and leave? Or is it right to wait a while, after the anger has subsided, calmly go and talk about your problem? A person with good EQ chooses the second option. Because he knows how important it is to control his emotions and respond appropriately. This can reduce mental stress and, to some extent, protect against physical diseases such as high blood pressure.

4. Choose your own mood.

Another part of managing emotions is choosing our moods. Moods are emotional states that last for a short period of time. We have the power to decide what mood is appropriate for a given situation and then get into that mood. Choosing the right mood can help a person stay motivated, focused, or try again instead of giving up. People with good EQ know that moods are not just something we get into. Knowing what mood is best for a given situation and how to get into that mood can help us control them. Imagine, you have an important presentation. Before it, you feel a little nervous. But, if you can, deliberately create a belief in yourself that says, "No, I'm doing this well, I can do it," and get into a slightly excited mood, that's also part of EQ.

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is something that develops gradually.

Emotional Intelligence is something that develops as we grow older. Otherwise, all adults would act like little children! They would scream, cry, roll over, thrash, and lose control of their emotions. Some of the skills that make up emotional intelligence develop early. They may seem easy. For example, recognizing emotions is easy when you know what to focus on. However, managing how you respond to emotions and choosing your mood, such as EQ, can seem a little harder to master. The reason for this is that the part of our brain that deals with self-management does not mature until we are past our teenage years. However, with practice, those brain pathways develop.

Just like a small plant grows into a big tree, our `EQ` also develops with time, experience, and effort.

We can all strengthen our inner wisdom by recognizing how we feel, understanding how we got to where we are, understanding how and why others feel the way they do, and putting our feelings into words when needed. This won't happen overnight, but it's worth the effort.

Summary and things to remember

Okay, so here are some things you need to remember from what we've talked about today:

• Not only `IQ`, but `EQ` is also very important in life: `(Emotional Intelligence)` is the ability to understand and control our emotions, and to understand others.
• `EQ` can be improved: Unlike `IQ`, `EQ` is something we can increase through effort.
• Practice these things to increase your EQ:
• Be aware of your own feelings.
• Understand the feelings of others ( empathy ).
• Control your emotions and respond appropriately.
• Choose your own mood .
• `EQ` is something that develops gradually: it takes time and practice. Don't be afraid, just try little by little.

Remember, developing your mental skills will not only help you live a happier and more successful life, but it will also help you maintain your mental health and strengthen your relationships with others. So, let's start thinking about this a little bit and working on it today, shall we?

---

Emotional Intelligence, EQ, EI, intelligence, emotions, mental health, relationships, self-control, empathy, mental agility