Emotional intelligence and Emotional awareness are two concepts that have been increasingly discussed in recent years. Emotional intelligence refers to an individual’s capacity to comprehend and control both their own emotions and the feelings of people in their immediate environment. On the other hand, emotional awareness is recognizing and identifying emotions in oneself and others. Both concepts are closely related and can be essential tools for individuals to improve their emotional and mental health and wellbeing and their effectiveness in relationships and any environment. Developing emotional intelligence can increase emotional awareness, help us to accept our emotions, and enable us to manage our emotions in healthy ways.
What is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional intelligence is understanding, managing, and using emotions entirely and constructively. It involves both self-awareness and the capability to identify one’s own sentiments, as well as the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. People with high emotional intelligence are typically good at managing their own emotions, as well as being able to navigate interpersonal relationships effectively.
It provides the ability to recognize and label emotions, learn their causes and effects, and use that knowledge to guide our thinking and behavior. For example, someone with high emotional intelligence might recognize that they are feeling anxious before an important meeting and will use that knowledge to calm themselves down and focus on the task at hand.
What is Emotional Awareness?
Emotional awareness, on the other hand, is the ability to recognize and understand one’s emotions while they are happening. It involves identifying and naming different emotions and being aware of how those emotions impact one’s thoughts, behaviors, and decisions. People with high emotional awareness are typically able to recognize and respond to their emotions more positively, which can help them avoid becoming overwhelmed or controlled by their emotions.
Someone with a high level of emotional awareness, for instance, is aware of their own feelings of anger and frustration and may stand back, assess the situation, and determine a more suitable approach. They can also recognize when they are feeling sad or anxious and take steps to address the underlying causes of those emotions.
The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Awareness and Acceptance
The ability to identify and comprehend feelings is important to both emotional intelligence and emotional awareness. Emotional intelligence and awareness are crucial to one’s overall happiness and success in life, relationships, and mental health. In terms of mental health and wellbeing, having a better understanding of one’s own emotions and the emotions of those around them can be a powerful tool for managing stress and avoiding negative emotions. Furthermore, it can help individuals to better understand and manage their relationships with others and face life’s varied situations bravely.
There are several ways in which we might benefit from increasing our emotional intelligence:
Increasing emotional awareness: Developing emotional intelligence can increase our emotional awareness as we become more attuned to our own emotional state and the emotions of others. This can help us recognize when we are feeling a particular emotion and why we feel that way. This increased awareness can also help us to identify patterns in our emotional responses and to understand how our emotions are influenced by our thoughts, behaviors, and the people and situations around us.
Accepting Emotions: Developing emotional intelligence can also help us to accept our emotions and to understand that they are a normal and natural part of being human. By recognizing that all emotions are valid and that it is okay to feel them, we can become more accepting of our emotions and more willing to express them in healthy ways. This can also help us to be more accepting of the emotions of others and to understand that everyone experiences a range of emotions throughout the day.
Managing emotions: Developing emotional intelligence can help us to manage our emotions in healthy and constructive ways. This can include engaging in healthy means of expressing feelings, such as conversing with a friend or writing in a journal. It can also involve coping strategies, such as deep breathing or mindfulness, to manage difficult or overwhelming emotions. By developing these skills, we can learn to regulate our emotions and respond to them in helpful rather than harmful ways.
Improve emotional intelligence and emotional awareness:
There are several steps that individuals can take.
First, it is crucial to engage in activities that help to increase self-awareness, such as journaling, mindfulness, and meditation. These activities can help individuals become more aware of their own emotions and those around them. Additionally, engaging in activities such as reading, watching films, and engaging in meaningful conversations can help to increase one’s understanding of emotions.
Secondly, it is essential to practice emotional regulation skills. This involves learning how to manage one’s own emotions and responding to the emotions of others positively. This can include practicing deep breathing exercises and engaging in activities such as yoga and tai chi. Additionally, it is essential to practice active listening skills, which involve being mindful of the emotions of those around you and responding respectfully and compassionately.
Finally, it is essential to practice empathy and understanding. Being empathic towards others allows one to place oneself in their position and experience what they are going through. It also means giving careful attention to their worries and questions and making a conscious effort to see the world through their point of view.
Example:
Let’s say, Sally, now in mid-thirties, has always struggled to handle her feelings. She has a habit of burying or denying her feelings in the mistaken belief that doing so will improve her emotional state. However, this typically backfires, as suppressing her feelings only strengthens them in the long run. Because of this, Sally has difficulty controlling her feelings and keeping up with the stresses of daily living. Sally has decided to work on her emotional intelligence to better her mental and emotional wellness. She begins to focus on her emotional state to better understand it. When she feels the urge to freely express, she starts a conversation with a friend or writes in a diary. With experience, she learns to recognize her emotions and cope with them rationally and can now understand and handle her feelings better. As a result of this process, she can now handle her relationships and everyday life better and live a happier, healthier, and more satisfying life.
In summary, emotional intelligence and awareness are interconnected and helpful in enhancing one’s personal and professional life. Emotional intelligence and awareness can be developed via the practice of a wide range of skills that can be incorporated into everyday life. Building these capabilities can help us become more self-aware, leading to better health, more satisfaction in life, and decreased stress.
