What exactly is emotional intelligence? Ultimately, it is the way we recognize, understand and manage not only our own feelings, but also the emotions of others. Emotions are often the reason for our actions and often impact the people around us. High emotional intelligence means you have greater self-awareness, in this context.
This skill is useful when it comes to developing leadership skills, meeting deadlines, dealing with difficult relationships or personal setbacks, and handling feedback or criticism. It teaches you how to deal with failure more effectively, thus thriving in both your love and work life. Emotional intelligence, or EQ, can be a skill you can develop, but sometimes, it’s simply about knowing that, in the end, less is more. This is what you should avoid if you are looking to improve your EQ.
1. DON’T: act impulsively
Emotionally intelligent people think about their feelings before acting on them. They pause to think before doing something, which prevents them from performing an impulsive act in the moment that they might regret, such as insulting someone or reacting physically.
2: DON’T: Ignore your mood
Sometimes you’re just having a bad day and you trudge through it, waiting for it to end. But instead of tracking your negative energy everywhere, consider questions like: How does my mood affect my decisions and thoughts right now, and how does this influence my behavior?
3. DON’T: Blame people for your problems
Projecting your feelings is an easy solution. We have all been there. You are in a bad mood or someone made you angry and now everyone around you feels your anger. But taking ownership of your feelings and being responsible for them is a form of self-care, while still being compassionate to the people around you.
4. DON’T: Criticize others excessively
Being critical is not a bad idea by nature. But there’s a limit to being objective and overly critical of others to deflect your own insecurities. Saying that what someone else is doing is wrong feels good. When someone else does something “dumb,” it’s just a way of congratulating you for not doing it. But instead, try positive affirmations and mantras about yourself, and if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
