By Eugene Yiga
“What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.” – Abraham H. Maslow
Ever since Daniel Goleman wrote Emotional Intelligence, the subject has made its way into success literature everywhere. But what exactly is emotional intelligence and why is it so important? Well, the “why” is quite clear. Many people find themselves successful in the traditional sense (i.e. with money and all its flashy friends) but still not satisfied. Creating meaning in life requires strong relationships and doing so requires emotional intelligence.
So, how does one go about creating a greater sense of emotional intelligence? Here are the twelve aspects involved with a brief description of each:
1. Awareness – Recognising individual emotions as they occur, understanding why they occur, and understanding the effects (both good and bad) they have on you.
2. Control – Resisting impulses and urges (delaying gratification), remaining calm even as chaos ensues, and always thinking clearly when those around you can’t.
3. Assessment – Knowing strengths and weaknesses, learning from mistakes, and constantly striving to build on what you have in an attempt to make yourself better.
4. Vision – Creating a sense of direction in your life, having the foresight to anticipate problems and needs before they arise, and paying attention to the details.
5. Creativity – Thinking outside the box, developing a tolerance for ambiguity, and maintaining an openness to change.
6. Innovation – Seeking out unconventional solutions to problems, keeping an open mind to novelty in the world, and applying creativity in practical ways.
7. Ambition – Setting tough but attainable goals, constantly raising the bar in pursuit of excellence, and striving towards achievement whenever you can.
8. Initiative – Taking the first step when opportunity arises, never sitting back simply because it’s not your “job”, and occasionally bending the rules when it comes to making progress.
9. Conscientiousness – Accepting responsibility for personal performance, adopting a focused approach in your work, and understanding that nobody is to blame for your shortcomings but you.
10. Adaptability – Admitting when you’ve failed, remaining flexible in the face of obstacles, and never being too stubborn to change.
11. Independence – Living with an unshakable sense of who you are, making your own decisions in the face of peer pressure, and acting despite tremendous risk and doubt.
12. Optimism – Understanding we all make mistakes, choosing to persist no matter how many times you’ve failed, and always believing that success is just around the corner.
“Smile, breathe and go slowly.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
A great way to create a change in your life is to do so in a month-long trial. Start at the top of the list and work your way down over the next year. Or simply choose whichever you feel will benefit you most right now and take it from there.
For example, to create a greater sense of awareness you could start meditating, even if it’s for only five minutes a day). Or start journaling. For assessment, you could take some time off to be alone with your thoughts, by treating yourself to a solo lunch or spending the afternoon at a local park. Or just drive to work with the radio off.
Slowly but surely, you’ll begin to see the difference. As long as you take the time to really imprint these new behaviours they’re bound to stick and you’re bound to feel your life acquire a whole new level of meaning.
“Nearly all mankind is more or less unhappy because nearly all do not know the true self. Real happiness abides in self-knowledge alone. All else is fleeting. To know one’s self is to be blissful always.” – Ramana Maharishi http://varsityblah.com/
Article Source: Twelve Keys of Emotional Intelligence
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