What is emotional intelligence? What is EQ? It is simply an abbreviation for Emotional Intelligence (compared to Intelligence Quotient or IQ). But before we get into any of that…
What is Intelligence?
Firstly, what is intelligence? This is an important question especially in 2023 as we are discussing intelligence in different forms, such as AI (Artificial Intelligence). Intelligence has no widely accepted scientific definition. If you ask 100 different scientists what the meaning of intelligence is, you just may get 100 different explanations. For our purposes, we we will use the following definition:
Intelligence – The ability to adaptably acquire and apply information.
This refers to our capacity to learn and apply what we learn in new ways.
And what are emotions exactly?
Emotion – A mental state that causes a change in our physiology meant to drive us towards a change in behavior regarding circumstances, mood, or relationships.
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to adapt to and apply our emotions. It is to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions and the emotions of others. It involves the ability to be aware of and express one’s own emotions. People with high emotional intelligence are able to effectively communicate and interact with others, and are able to use their emotions to make positive contributions to their personal and professional lives.
Emotional intelligence is often thought of as being distinct from intellectual intelligence, or IQ. While IQ measures a person’s cognitive abilities, such as their ability to reason and solve problems, EQ measures a person’s ability to understand and manage their own and others’ emotions. IQ is what most people think of when discussing intelligence. Research has shown that both IQ and EQ are important for success in life, and that people with high levels of both tend to be more successful in their personal and professional endeavors.
What is EQ?
The key components of emotional intelligence are:
- Self-awareness: the ability to recognize and understand one’s own emotions and how they affect one’s thoughts and behaviors.
- Self-regulation: the ability to manage and control one’s own emotions, rather than being controlled by them.
- Internal Motivation: the ability to use emotions to drive personal and professional success without the need for external inputs or circumstances.
- Empathy: the ability to recognize and understand the emotions of others.
- Social awareness: the ability to effectively communicate and interact with others.
Emotional intelligence can be developed and improved over time through learning, practice, and self-reflection. It is a valuable skill to have in many different settings, including personal relationships, work, and education.
In closing, I hope that answers the question of “What is emotional intelligence?” or “What is EQ?”
Practice mindfulness and develop your emotional intelligence with our free course on the power of intention or delve deeper with the Transformational Mindfulness book. Stay tuned for more information and activities related to mindfulness, EQ, and self mastery.
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