Emotions play an important role in people’s lives. Undoubtedly, they shape and influence our actions. While it may be easy for some people to show their emotions, and difficult for others, the real question is whether we are able to read and react to other people’s emotions appropriately. Well, people who are emotionally intelligent are very good at that. What exactly is emotional intelligence? In short, it can be defined as the ability to recognize both your own and other people’s emotions and respond to them adequately.
In what follows, there is a list of 9 habits of emotionally intelligent people that help them advance their emotional life and career:
1. They Are Curious.
Emotionally intelligent people are highly curious. They ask different questions so as to gather more practical knowledge. Moreover, they want to listen to people who have different jobs. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology, says that they are perpetual students who always gain knowledge from different people, “from the plumber who comes to their house to a philosopher at a cocktail party.”
2. They Practice Self – Regulation.
Self-regulation or self-control is when people are able to control their emotions. This means that they don’t have uncontrollable and hysterical fits of anger, and they don’t bring sudden and thoughtless decisions. People who have self-regulation skills feel comfortable with changes, can say no, and understand that waiting for something they want can bring better results.
3. They Are Self – Aware.
According to the psychotherapist Tina Tessina, people who have emotional intelligence (EI) can make a distinction between intellect and emotions. Emotionally intelligent people use their critical-thinking skills to manage their feelings without banishing them. Their self-awareness is defined by Tessina’s remark: “They know their strengths and weaknesses. They have realistic positive self-regard, which means they have reasonable standards for their own good behavior.”
4. They Practice Empathy.
“People with empathy are good at recognizing the feelings of others, even when those feelings may not be obvious,” notes psychotherapist Tessina. As a result, such people connect well with others and show acts of kindness and altruism towards them. They care about other people’s feelings and make sure they live honestly and don’t judge others instantly.
5. They Are Aware of People around them.
Emotionally intelligent people are aware of others surrounding them. According to Cara Day, an educational and behavioral therapist, those people recognize and comprehend other people’s feelings. They also know when to give someone support and sympathy and when to withdraw.
6. They Allow for Emotions.
People who have EI don’t discard negative emotions. Tina Gilbertson, a psychotherapist, observes that allowing negative feelings to become known by acknowledging and not judging them supports self-knowledge and an increased sense of purpose. Additionally, people with EI take into consideration and accept other people’s negative emotions, too.
7. They Handle Their Emotions.
Not knowing how to manage our emotions, we may opt for negative and damaging methods of coping with them, such as eating unhealthy food, doing unsafe activities, consuming alcohol or taking drugs. Due to the fact that emotionally intelligent people can handle both their own and other people’s emotions, they stay stable and don’t harm others. That enables them to have a better quality of life at a personal and professional level, Durvasula explains. Moreover, there may be less of a chance for those people to suffer from difficult emotions with a physical manifestation, such as headaches.
8. They Are Motivated and Motivate.
People with high levels of EI can increase feelings of enthusiasm and interest. As Tessina suggests, emotionally intelligent people know that motivation results from celebration and appreciation, and they are inclined to motivate themselves and others, when there is a suitable situation to do so. They are also very productive and effective in things they do, and they love challenges.
Image: Alberto Monteraz