Emotional intelligence is one of the most beneficial character traits one could possess. It’s helpful for improving the quality of life including relationships, finances and much more.
As a whole, emotional intelligence is important for improving emotional well-being, improving physical health, improving social skills, influencing more success and for having better communication skills. A better quality of life will be experienced when emotional intelligence is practiced/achieved.
In this article, we’ll discuss more on the five individual reasons why emotional intelligence is important. We’ll also get into what it is, why you need it, the benefits of it, traits/characteristics and more.
5 Reasons why Emotional Intelligence is Important
Improved Emotional Well-Being
When you’re aware of your emotions and what makes you “tick”, it will be easier to keep yourself aligned in emotional well-being. The more you practice self-awareness in regard to your emotions, the better you’ll be at avoiding unnecessary turmoil and internal conflicts.
Also, when someone is emotionally intelligent enough to understand their periodic unpleasant emotions, they understand how temporary the situation is.
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When someone is able to recognize that an unpleasant situation is short-lived, they are often more resilient. Also, they are not as deeply effected as someone who is not as in touch with their own emotional state.
Improved Physical Health
When your “spirits” are high your body functions better. It’s the fascinating scientific connection between the mind and the body. Studies have shown that immune systems function more efficiently when someone is in good emotional health.
This does not mean that we should avoid any “negative” emotion. It’s simply referring to the way in which all emotions are perceived and what the individual makes that particular situation mean to them. Being able to understand your own triggers and being proactive about caring for yourself will result in overall better health.
Improved Social Skills
When someone is emotionally intelligent, they are able to hone in on what others might be feeling and thinking. This is valuable in social setting as it can establish more meaningful and beneficial relationships.
Being able to sense someone else’s emotions based on tone, body language and/or relating to their particular situation is a great way to connect. This will show others how much they mean to you.
People want to feel understood, accepted and valid. Being able to perceive someone’s emotions and draw meaningful conversations based on that will help you do just that.
More Success
Many of us have heard the old saying that “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” (the same can be said for me, I’m a total foodie). Well when it comes to success, the way to success is by providing value and establishing good working relationships.
What better way to do that then to truly understand what your boss/client/audience needs in order to best serve them and provide that value? If you want to become more successful in whatever it is you’re doing, going above and beyond to understand and empathize with others is a great place to start.
Figure out how people are feeling/what they need and you can position yourself to be the one who provides it. You become the solution to their problem which very valuable.
Happier Love Life
This reason is similar to the improved social skills example as it involves communication. However, when you’re dating or married you may know that it seems like the loved one closest to you is often where your emotions are tried.
While this is hopefully not intentional, the relationship will become familiar and we tend to take the other for granted sometimes. We might say or do insensitive things or have them done to us. In this scenario, emotional intelligence is important because it helps you take back your power.
YOU are the one responsible for your feelings. And YOU get to decide how your partner’s actions or words make you feel and how you react based on that.
Not taking on the assumed reaction that the other person might be looking for is a great way to maintain self control. You’ll be able to rationalize and communicate through the situation without any unnecessary pain or confusion.
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What is Emotional Intelligence and Why You Need it?
Emotional intelligence is the ability to be aware of one’s own emotions and emotional state of health as well as those of others. It is a level of self-awareness that helps someone navigate otherwise distressing emotional situations with better ease, grace and tenacity.
Everyone needs this in to be able to develop themselves to their fullest potential. Practicing and achieving emotional intelligence can help improve nearly any aspect of quality of life.
What are Six Benefits of Emotional Intelligence?
Better Relationships
Having better relationships is a huge benefit of being emotionally intelligent. An emotionally intelligent person will enjoy better conversations, more efficient interactions and more respect and trust from your loved ones.
They will also be aware of things that have the potential to make them resentful. They can then approach necessary conversations head on. Feelings of resentfulness or underlying irritations won’t be able to further develop. Relationships will be able to live in the moment without trying to stifle hard feelings or uncomfortable topics.
Self-Preservation
When someone is emotionally intelligent, they will be able to sense trouble coming from a mile away. Meaning, that they understand people as they individually process their own feelings and will be able to tell if they are in potential danger.
They can act accordingly in order to navigate certain types of dangerous interactions in a way that will protect them.
Earn More Money
Since emotional intelligence is such an asset in the workplace, it makes sense that possessing this skill could lead to higher financial reward.
Those who are able to connect with people on an emotional level will seem more personable and understanding. They will make people feel comfortable in their abilities and can ultimately use this to help them negotiate a higher salary or new role.
Have Less Stress
People who are emotionally intelligent have the ability to monitor their emotional and mental health much more closely. They can observe their situations from a proactive perspective and will know how to avoid or relieve stress faster.
Stress is a normal part of life at times and cannot completely be avoided. However, those who take the time to sharpen their emotional intelligence skills will find that things that used to bother them might take on a lighter meaning.
Better Health
The body’s immune response to stress and other difficult emotions is amazing. You can make yourself sick if you’re stressed or in emotional distress of some kind.
Again, when someone is emotionally intelligent, they will be able to side step many of the experiences that may trigger poor health due to stress. Understanding your own thought process and the emotions associated with that can help you maintain stress levels and good health.
People who are emotionally intelligent also are aware of the extreme benefit that exercise has on the one’s emotional health. Regular exercise will be pursued which will keep their emotional health in check.
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Mental/Emotional Strength
Just like your physical strength, mental and emotional strength both need to be practiced in order to stay strong and healthy. Practicing emotional intelligence will make someone less likely to over react. They will experience what it’s like to be in control of their mind and emotions better.
This is a powerful thing to experience because it switches someone from the perspective of “things happen to me and I have to deal with them” to “I am in control of how I feel about certain situations and can choose to react however I see fit”.
Having mental and emotional strength puts you back in the driver’s seat of your life. It empowers you to live the life you want instead of just muddling through as a victim of circumstance.
What are the 5 Traits of Emotional Intelligence?
Self-Awareness
self-awareness is being aware of your current feelings, what they mean to you and why. It also involves understanding how your response/actions might effect others.
Being self-aware often means that people are able to “think ahead” and will control themselves in difficult emotional situations. It is simply the observation of one’s own feelings (and often thoughts) in a particular situation.
Self-Regulation
Self-regulation basically refers to the patience and control of which one observes their emotions in a given situation. They will be regulating their thoughts and actions. Emotionally intelligent people will act according to their best interests as well as the interests of the greater good.
This is helpful for navigating difficult situations with grace and dignity. People who are able to manage themselves in this way rarely “burn bridges” in the heat of the moment. Over reacting does not coexist with self-regulation and someone who has this level of emotional intelligence will have very few regrets about their behavior and actions.
This takes a lot of emotional strength and practice but is usually rewarded with better relationships and respect from others.
Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand what others are feeling and being able to feel an relate to the feelings of others. Someone who is empathetic might try to help navigate the situation for an emotionally distressed individual.
They usually offer helpful advise or will do anything they can to improve the situation. Being empathetic is definitely a strong trait to have, however, it can result in someone over extending themselves if proper boundaries are not put in place.
Many people will have no problem taking advantage of an empathetic person so being aware of this and keeping your own needs in mind when being empathetic will be the best course of action when reaching out to empathize with others.
Motivation
All kinds of people can be motivated. However, an emotionally intelligent person will be driven and motivated by something that is not necessarily material or monetary. The motivation will typically have to do with something that is extremely fulfilling.
A “dream goal” or some type of intentional aspiration that they just can’t seem to shake. Emotionally intelligent people understand that they thrive off of the ability to express themselves on some sort of creative or emotional scale. Their motivation comes from within and they know the power it has in their lives.
Social Skills
Communication is a vital trait of the emotionally intelligent. Being aware of other’s feelings, body language and life experiences help emotionally intelligent people interact in a very effective and compelling way.
Being able to harness these skills comes might come easy to emotionally intelligent people even if they consider themselves to be an introvert. Much of the time, emotionally intelligent people mistake themselves for either being an introvert or for having qualities on one.
The truth may be that they shy away from people/social situations because they are so empathetic that it is exhausting for them. Also, they might overthink their own words/actions and want to avoid feeling judged by others.
Why Emotional Intelligence is Important in the Workplace?
Emotional intelligence is important in the workplace for improving the efficiency of communication for collaborative purposes. Being emotionally intelligent in the work place can save time and money.
When communication is at it’s most efficient point projects don’t take as long, less resources are used and people get along better. Morale is automatically higher when people feel understood and connected as well.
What is the most Important part of Emotional Intelligence?
There is not one specific element of emotional intelligence that is significantly more important than the other. However, being emotionally intelligent enough to know why you feel what you do and how to avoid harmful behaviors and patterns because of that is very beneficial.
Emotional intelligence as a whole is a very useful tool. It benefits that individual’s personal life as well as their relationships and can be a huge blessing to others.
For more on emotional intelligence, check out this article” Is Emotional Intelligence Genetic or Learned?
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