7 behaviors to avoid while trying to increase your emotional intelligence

As we go about our day we tend to forget how to take care of our emotional intelligence.

What Is Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize your emotions, understand what they’re telling you, and realize how your emotions affect people around you. It also involves your perception of others: when you understand how they feel, this allows you to manage relationships more effectively.

Here’s what to avoid:

  1. Drama Emotionally intelligent people listen, offer sound advice and extend empathy to those who need it but they don’t permit others’ lives and emotions to effect or rule their own.
  2. Complaining implies two things – one, that we are victims, and two, that there are no solutions to our problems. Rarely does an emotionally intelligent person feel victimized, and even more infrequently do they feel that a solution is beyond their grasp. So instead of looking for someone or something to blame, they think constructively and dissolve the solution in private.
  3. Negativity Emotionally intelligent people have the ability to kerb cynical thoughts. They acknowledge that negative thoughts are just that – thoughts – and rely on facts to come to conclusions as well as being able to silence or zone out any negativity.
  4. Dwelling on the past Those with high emotional intelligence choose to learn from the mistakes and choices they have made and instead of dwelling on the past are mindful to live in the now.
  5. Selfishness There is a degree of selfishness that is required to get ahead in life, too much can fracture relationships and cause disharmony. Try to avoid being overly selfish and consider others needs.
  6. Giving in to peer pressure Just because everyone else does something, they don’t feel compelled to follow suit if they don’t want to. They think independently, and never conform just to please other people.
  7. Being overly critical Nothing destroys a person’s morale faster than being overly critical. Remember that people are only human and have the same motivations (and limitations) as you. Take the time to understand another person then communicate the change you want to see.

Lastly, be sure to always check-in with yourself to objectively see where your thoughts and feelings are being directed.   There are many different kinds of emotional intelligence, and it’s our job to discover what they are and how to integrate them into our lives for a better tomorrow.

Sending much zen vibes!  💋

Follow me on any of these social media links:

Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

Photo credit:  Steven Meisel

 

 

16 Comments

    1. IngridMadisonAve

      Yeah, it’s hard when it becomes a habit. Practicing appreciation and gratefulness helps. Tomorrow, I am listing 53 things we can be grateful for each day. xx 💋💞

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.