What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is essentially the ability to recognise, manage, and use your emotions in positive and constructive ways. It is also the ability to recognise the emotional state of others and engage them in ways that create mutual safety, trust and confidence. Research shows that intellectual intelligence (IQ) has less to do with success in life than emotional intelligence (EQ). Our IQ helps us understand and navigate the world on one level, but we also need EQ, in order to improve our relations with others, hence improve our health and well- being.  Emotional intelligence is directly linked to self-esteem, self-awareness, compassion, empathy, and adaptability—important predictors of health and well-being and success in life. Emotional intelligence is what helps you communicate clearly, lead others, and build powerful relationships at work and in your personal life, hence better health. Emotional intelligence also helps you motivate yourself, solve problems, and achieve your goals.

Emotional intelligence and its four fundamental capabilities.

•    Self-awareness – the ability to be conscious of your emotions and recognise their impact while using gut feelings to guide your decisions.
•    Self-management – the ability to control your emotions and behaviour and adapt to changing circumstances.
•    Social awareness – the ability to sense, understand, and react to the emotions of others and feels comfortable socially.
•    Relationship management – the ability to inspire, influence, and connect to others while managing conflict

SOURCE:  HP-MOS Research Department

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In order to maintain and strengthen your mental and emotional health, it is important to pay attention to your own needs and feelings. Do not let stress and negative emotions build up. Try to maintain a balance between your daily responsibilities and the things you enjoy. If you take care of yourself, you will be better prepared to deal with challenges when they arise.

Tips and Strategies for improving Mental and Emotional  Well Being

• Appeal to your senses. Stay calm and energised by appealing to the five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Listen to music that lifts your mood, place flowers where you will see and smell them, massage your hands and feet, or sip a warm drink. 
• Engage in meaningful, creative work. Do things that challenge your creativity and make you feel productive, whether or not you are paid for it – things like gardening, drawing, writing, playing an instrument, or building something in your workshop.
• Make leisure time a priority. Do things for no other reason than that it feels good to do them. Go to a funny movie, take a walk on the beach, listen to music, read a good book, or talk to a friend. Doing things just because they are fun is no indulgence. Play is an emotional and mental health necessity.  
• Make time for contemplation and appreciation. Think about the things you are grateful for. Mediate,  enjoy the sunset, or simply take a moment to pay attention to what is good, positive, and beautiful as you go about your day
• Everyone is different; not all things will be. equally beneficial to all people. Some people feel better relaxing and slowing down while others need more activity and more excitement or stimulation to feel better. The important thing is to find activities that you enjoy and that give you a boost.

SOURCE:  HP-MOS Research Department

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Being emotionally and mentally healthy does not mean never going through bad times or experiencing emotional problems. We all go through disappointments, loss, and change. Moreover, while these are normal parts of life, they can still cause sadness, anxiety, and stress.

The difference is that people with good emotional health have an ability to bounce back from adversity, trauma, and stress. This ability is called resilience. People who are emotionally and mentally healthy have the tools for coping with difficult situations and maintaining a positive outlook. They remain focused, flexible, and creative in bad times as well as good.

One of the key factors in resilience is the ability to balance your emotions. The capacity to recognise your emotions and express them appropriately helps you avoid being stuck in depression, anxiety, or other negative mood states. Another key factor is having a strong social support network. Having trusted people you can turn to for encouragement and support will boost your resilience in tough times

Building your RESILIENCE

Resilience involves maintaining flexibility and balance in your life as you deal with stressful circumstances and traumatic events.

This happens in several ways, including:

• Letting yourself experience strong emotions, and also realising when you may need to avoid experiencing them at times in order to continue functioning
• Stepping forward and taking action to  deal with your problems and meet the demands of daily living, and also stepping back to rest and reenergise yourself
• Spending time with loved ones to gain support and encouragement, and also nurturing yourself 
• Relying on others, and also relying on yourself

SOURCE:  HP-MOS Research Department

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Mental or emotional health refers to an overall psychological well-being. It includes the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships, and your ability to manage your feelings and deal with difficulties.  Good mental health is not just the absence of mental health problems. Being mentally or emotionally healthy is much more than being free of depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues. Rather than the absence of mental illness, mental and emotional health refers to the presence of positive characteristics.  
People who are mentally and emotionally healthy tend to have the following: 

• A sense of contentment.
• A zest for living and the ability to laugh and have fun. 
• The ability to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity. 
• A sense of meaning and purpose, in both their activities and their relationships. 
• The flexibility to learn new things and adapt to change. 
• A balance between work and play, rest and activity, etc. 
• The ability to build and maintain fulfilling relationships. 
• Self-confidence and high self-esteem.

These positive characteristics of mental and emotional health allow you to participate in life to the fullest extent possible through productive, meaningful activities and strong relationships. These positive characteristics also help you cope when faced with life's challenges and stresses.

SOURCE:  HP-MOS Research Department

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