10 Ways to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence

10 Ways to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence

Published September 2019

“Emotion can be the enemy. If you give in to your emotions, you lose yourself. You must be at one with your emotions because the body always follows the mind. “
–Bruce Lee

Frustration over emotions may suggest that an individual lacks emotional intelligence. For example, if you get stressed out easily, have difficulty asserting yourself, make quick assumptions, hold grudges, or often feel misunderstood, it could be time to begin working on improving your emotional intelligence (EQ).

After decades of research, medical scientists point to evidence that sets star performers apart from others. For example, those who have shown strong characteristics of high EQ often excel far beyond their colleagues and peers.

Did you know that there are four core skills that an emotionally intelligent person has?

1. manages to be open-minded to how one is feeling and integrates those emotions into decisions and actions.
2. ability to identify the feelings of yourself and others.
3. Use feelings to guide through thoughts and reasoning in yourself and others.
4. understand that emotions might influence change as events develop and unfold.

Here are ten critical ways to drastically improve your ability to be emotionally intelligent.

1. Be mindful of your reaction to any and every event that occurs
2. Take a deep breath and pause before responding, whether or not the situation causes you to be happy, sad, excited, or angry. Always pause.
3. Ask yourself “Why” (Why does this person feel that way? Why does this make me feel the way it does?)
4. Rather than taking offense to criticism, explore what you can learn from it.
5. Keep a journal to accurately gauge your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to events that arise in your life.
6. Understand what it is that motivates you and use it to push yourself.
7. Maintaining a healthy diet
8. Channel your energy into something productive and positive.
9. Set personal and professional goals every day. Accomplishing goals increases confidence.
10. Bounce back from adversity by letting go, not blaming others, and diving into creative projects