Are you an emotionally intelligent person?

What is emotional intelligence? 

It has nothing to do with how smart you are. It's simply understanding your emotions, recognizing your feelings, and realizing how those emotions impact you and the people around you.

According to the article, IQ vs EQ For Career Success, published by Diane A. Safer, PhD, in PSI CHI (Fall 2023, Volume 28, Number 1), studies have found that emotionally intelligent individuals have greater job satisfaction, are more productive, and find more growth opportunities. 

Higher emotional intelligence will garner more friends, make you a better teammate, and allow you to be a better leader because you will be emotionally more even-keeled.

In his book titled Emotional Intelligence - Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, psychologist Daniel Goleman has developed a framework of five tenants that define emotional intelligence:

1. Self-Awareness: People with high emotional intelligence understand their emotions and don't let their feelings rule them. They are confident because they are in control of their emotions.

2. Self-Regulation: People who self-regulate usually don't allow their emotions to get too high or low and avoid making impulsive, reckless decisions.

3. Motivation: These individuals are willing to absorb short-term pain to reap long-term gain. They are high-achievers, enjoy a challenge, and are results-oriented.

4. Empathy: This is the second-most important aspect of emotional intelligence. Empathy is the ability to recognize and understand the desires, needs, and wants of others. They can perceive and understand what people are going through, even when it may not be obvious.

5. Social-Skills: High emotional intelligence lends itself to being good with people. They are well-liked, care about the welfare of their colleagues, and are the "go-to" person in a crisis. They are great communicators who develop deep connections with others.  

Emotional intelligence allows you to understand your impact on the world and empathize and value your relationships more deeply.

Please leave me a comment about your thoughts on emotional intelligence. Your opinions and perspectives are valuable, and I enjoy hearing from you. 

How thankful are you for the things you have?

Too many of us focus on what we don't have instead of being grateful for what we do have.

I'm reminded of the biblical story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

God provided Adam and Eve with the most delicious and scrumptious food and made it all accessible to them with one caveat: they should not eat from the tree in the center of the garden. Everything else was theirs for the taking.

But when Satan tempted Eve, he didn't attack her abundance; he pointed out what she lacked. 

When we concentrate on what we don't have or situations that displease us, our minds turn to despair and away from the thankfulness we should show.

Think about all the things you take for granted daily, such as the air in your lungs, the appreciation and love people have for you, and your necessities like food, clothing, and a place to live. 

Our abundance is all around us, but we fail to recognize it because we focus on the few things we lack or become jealous because someone else has something that we want.

God has provided us with everything we need. In Matthew's gospel (Matthew 6:25), Jesus preaches to the people, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes?"

We are instructed not to worry about "things" in our lives but to be thankful for what we have.

Did you ever think you don't have something because you don't need it or it wouldn't be good for you?

When we approach our Creator with thanksgiving for the blessing we have, God's radiance pours into us. This light can transform the darkest desires and wants into gratitude for what we possess.

Being disciplined in our willingness to be thankful for all we have can lead to receiving an abundance of the things we need. 

Please leave me a comment regarding your perspective on thankfulness. Your opinions and perspectives are valuable, and I enjoy hearing from you.