{"id":14443,"date":"2013-06-16T21:55:27","date_gmt":"2013-06-17T05:55:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=14443"},"modified":"2013-06-16T21:55:27","modified_gmt":"2013-06-17T05:55:27","slug":"the-4-fundamental-pillars-of-emotional-intelligence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/the-4-fundamental-pillars-of-emotional-intelligence\/","title":{"rendered":"The 4 Fundamental Pillars of Emotional Intelligence"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nUsually when we think of \u201cintelligence\u201d we associate it with things like logic, math, and science.<\/p>\n

However, according to psychologists such as Daniel Goleman, \u201cemotional intelligence\u201d (EQ) is another aspect of intelligence that is often overlooked.<\/p>\n

The basic view of emotional intelligence is that emotions aren\u2019t necessarily the opposite of thinking, but a different way of thinking about different types of problems that exist in our world.<\/p>\n

In other words, emotions can be a very valuable tool in guiding our choices and decision-making.<\/p>\n

In light of his theory of evolution, Charles Darwin theorized that our minds have evolved to experience emotions so that we can better adapt to our environment.<\/p>\n

For example, we\u2019ve evolved to experience a \u201cnegative\u201d emotion such as fear so that we can better respond to a situation that is bad for survival. In this case, fear is an emotion that motivates us to avoid something when we are in danger.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, a \u201cpositive\u201d emotion, such as joy, can signal to us that a situation is good for survival. In this case, joy is an emotion that motivates you to seek more of something.<\/p>\n

This is a very basic and rudimentary analysis \u2013 and it doesn\u2019t come anywhere near describing the complexities of our emotional world (as well as social world) \u2013 but it gives you an idea on how different emotions can guide our behaviors in different ways.<\/p>\n

Emotional intelligence is about being more aware of our emotions and what they are signaling to us.<\/p>\n

Below you\u2019ll find descriptions of the 4 fundamental pillars that make up emotional intelligence as a whole and how you can apply them to your daily life.<\/p>\n

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Self-Awareness<\/b><\/p>\n

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The first pillar of emotional intelligence is paying attention to your own emotions.
\nEmotions often come in two main parts: 1) The psychological component<\/i> \u2013 the thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs that underlie most of our emotions, and 2) The physical component<\/i> \u2013 the bodily sensations that often accompany different emotional states.<\/p>\n

For example, an emotion such as nervousness may be a mixture of certain thoughts (\u201cI\u2019m not good at this\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m scared I\u2019m going to make a mistake\u201d) and certain sensations in our bodies (a fluttery feeling in our stomach, ie \u201cI have butterflies in my stomach\u201d).<\/p>\n

Sometimes just being more aware of our emotional states (and all their components) is enough to manage them better. In one recent study, they found simplylabeling negative emotions can help you overcome them<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The next time you\u2019re feeling a really strong emotion, try stepping back and just observing that emotion as it is. Ask yourself, \u201cWhat am I feeling? What am I thinking? What physical sensations am I experiencing with this emotion?\u201d<\/p>\n

A little honest reflection of your emotions can really help you understand yourself better and how your mind really works.<\/p>\n

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Self-Regulation<\/b><\/p>\n

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Once you are more aware of your emotions, the next pillar of emotional intelligence is learning how to respond to them better.<\/p>\n

Depending on the situation, there are many different strategies we can use to better regulate our emotions. Some of these strategies include:<\/p>\n