Boost Emotional Intelligence: In-Flow Interventions Methodologies

Boost Emotional Intelligence: In-Flow Interventions Methodologies

Emotional intelligence is one of those human superpowers given to almost everyone. I say nearly everyone because there are those in our mental health community who lack access to this superpower (without help). Nevertheless, it is a powerful tool that defines our existence and how we experience life. What is emotional intelligence? It is AWARENESS. The state of being aware, safely and responsibly interacting with ourselves, our environment, and those who share the habitable space. When we dig deeper, we discover that emotional intelligence requires deliberate observation, not just with what we see, sense, and feel, but with what we know. 

The awareness of the two-part human experience is the core of emotional intelligence. It is also essential that we understand the distinction between mood and emotion. A mood is longer-lasting, and an emotion is reactive to the moment and short-term. There is a lot to unpack, so we will have to discuss mood and emotion later. 

Regardless of age, you have some measure of emotional intelligence. A simple example is the ability to recognize when you or someone else is angry, separate your emotions from their emotions, enact your ability to be sensitive to the moment, communicate effectively, decide the appropriate response, and carry out a well-thought-out course of action. 

I don’t want to oversimplify or understate the function of emotional intelligence, so let me break it down into recognizable phases.

Phase one:

Self-awareness - Be honest with yourself about how you feel, why you are feeling it, how and whether the feeling serves you, and how you intend to utilize the feeling. Yes, our emotions need intention. Depending on the day, this is a continual process. 

Phase two:

Empathy- A well-used word, meaning being sensitive to your emotions and mindset, putting yourself in someone's shoes, or imagining what it must be like to them at the given moment. For example, recognizing the mood and responding in a way that demonstrates respect and encourages connectivity, collaboration, and healthy behavior. 

Phase Three:

Practice - The most outstanding teachers we have are our experiences. But the teachers lose their impact when we fail to pay attention, demonstrate our learning through action, and do not change our mindsets. Learning emotional intelligence begins with two questions: How do I feel, and what do I need to know? The same question can be directed at those around us. Learning how to use the information gathered from those questions/experiences is achieved through continual practice and is the starting point. 

As you endeavor to gain success through relationship building, remember that all these are easier said than done. It takes many of us years of practice to exercise emotional intelligence responsibly. I am here if you need to understand emotional intelligence better and how to actualize it yourself.