If you think IQ is more important, you might be surprised by what follows. That’s not to say that IQ isn’t important, but there may be some traits that influence our health and happiness even more.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (also called Emotional Quotient, or EQ) allows us to connect with others, understand ourselves better, and live a more authentic, healthy and happy life.

The five components of EQ

According to Daniel Goleman, psychologist from Harvard University, there are five components of EQ:

• Self-awareness: the ability to recognize and understand our own emotions;
• Self-regulation: the ability to appropriately express and manage our emotion;
• Motivation: being motivated for internal reasons vs. external reasons such as wealth and fame;
• Empathy: understanding how other people are feeling on an intimate level;
• Social skills: the skills that allow people to interact socially with one another and successfully navigate social situations.

Examples and of high and low EQ

Qualities that best describe a high EQ:

1. Ability to embrace change, understanding that it’s a fact of life, and being quick to adapt;
2. Being self-aware, knowing what you are good at and what kinds of environments suit you best;
3. Ability to easily relate to others and understand what they are going through;
4. Being gracious, grateful and happy.

Some signs of low EQ:

1. Inability to control one’s own emotions;
2. No comprehension of the feelings of others;
3. Inability to maintain good relationships.

Improving your EQboils down to a couple of simple (but not always easy) ideas.  Pay attention to your own feelings, try to remain objective and accepting of them, and think about how your actions affect others.

To your health and happiness, Jessica & Bruno.

From the same authors: Your heart health often starts in your mouth (Click the image below)