One of the key aspects of your emotions is the way you employ emotional intelligence in response to what you are FEELING. The concept of emotional intelligence tells us that our ability to understand and manage emotions greatly increases our chances of success. This idea has played a key role in enriching the way people think about emotions and human behavior. When wielded by an enlightened leader, Emotional intelligence can be one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal. It helps promote your self-awareness, self-control, motivation, empathy, and social skills, all while improving your influence as a leader. Emotional intelligence is recognition, understanding, and a choice of our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It shapes our synergy with others and our awareness of ourselves. It characterizes how and what we learn; it aids us in setting priorities; it plays a vital role in the majority of your daily actions.

“Wisdom tends to grow in proportion to one’s awareness of one’s ignorance.” ~ Anthony de Mello

Before you can effectively employ emotional intelligence, you must first understand how it looks in everyday life. There are several steps you can take to further understand and more effectively employ your emotional intelligence. I will identify a few in the following paragraphs and expound on their employment.

Make the time to take inventory of your feelings: Emotional intelligence can only begin when you possess both self and social awareness. These two awarenesses coupled will provide you with the capability of recognizing emotions, and their resultant impact in both yourself and most importantly, others. Acknowledgment that you do not know everything is in itself, INTELLIGENCE.

That level of awareness can only begin with deep inner reflection. Don’t be afraid to become aware of your emotional strengths, and weaknesses. Continue taking inventory by discovering how your current mood may affect your thoughts and decision making. Investigate what might be possibly right below the surface that may be influencing what others say or do.

Intentionally mulling over the result of your emotional inventory will yield valuable awareness that can be used to your advantage and will, in turn, help others.

~ An Excerpt from “Cast Your Light”