Self-Help Information: Emotional Intelligence
What is Emotional Intelligence? Emotional intelligence is the act of consciously choosing your thoughts, feelings and actions to get the most possible out of your relationship with yourself and others. Emotional Intelligence integrates an individual’s emotional development (feelings), cognitive development (thoughts), and behavioral development (actions) to maintain balance in one’s life.
How Does Emotional Intelligence Develop?
Emotional intelligence develops throughout an
individual’s lifespan in three important areas. First, by increasing
your self-awareness that is based on an understanding of how you
function (know yourself).
Second, by building self-management through
consciously choosing your thoughts, feelings and actions (choose
yourself). And third, by developing self-direction through use of
empathy and good decision making to increase wisdom and create a
more compassionate world (give yourself).
Ways to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence
Know Yourself (self-awareness)
Self-Awareness – recognize how your own
feelings and actions affect others.
Self-Honesty – understand and accept your
strengths, weaknesses, feelings and personal power.
Independence – understand your thoughts,
feelings and actions and how you choose to experience them with
yourself and others.
Choose Yourself (self-management)
- Delay Gratification – make choices based
on what is "best" not what provides instant satisfaction.
- Develop Priorities – make decisions based
on what is most important at any given time or circumstance.
- Be Optimistic – make a personal choice to
be hopeful rather than hopeless, positive rather than negative.
- Be Accountable – take responsibility for
your thoughts, feelings and actions.
- Develop Social Skills – learn good
interpersonal skills to successfully interact and communicate
with others.
Give Yourself (self-direction)
Personal Growth – work towards lifelong
learning and growth.
Interdependence – understand how you fit
within a larger community, how you impact that system, and how
you contribute to it.
Empathy – show compassion, understanding
and forgiveness to others.
Values – understand your personal value
system and make principled decisions based on that system.
Noble Goals – develop goals that serve
and benefit others through careful consideration of the costs
and benefits for those involved.
(The above information was adapted from
material produced by Anabel Jensen, PhD, Joshua Freedman and Six
Seconds, 2003. You can visit their website at
www.6seconds.org
Recommended Books to Read
Raising Your Emotional Intelligence.
Jeanne Segal, New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, LLC., 1997.
Emotionally Intelligent Living. Geetu
Orme, Williston, VT: Crown House Publishing, 2001.
What You Can Change…What You Can’t:
Learning to accept who you are. Martin Seligman, New York:
Fawcett Columbine, 1993.
Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter
more than IQ. Daniel Goleman, New York: Bantam Books, 1995.
Vital Lies, Simple Truths: The psychology
of self-deception. Daniel Goleman, New York: Simon & Schuster,
Inc., 1985.
Need Additional Help?
Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Counseling and Wellness Services offer free individual counseling for these
and related issues for veterinary students (WSU Veterinary Students ONLY).
For more information or to schedule an appointment call or e-mail:
Carolyn Wyatt PhD
ADBF 1035
335-0774
cwyatt@vetmed.wsu.edu
NOTE: The information contained in these self help
documents is not to be used as a substitute for professional care. Neither
the authors, Washington State University nor the College of Veterinary
Medicine assume liability for injury incurred by following the information
presented in these self-help documents
Last Edited: Mar 07, 2007 2:22 PM
