How to improve your “Emotional Intelligence.”

Emotional intelligence is our capability to recognize our own emotions and those of others. This encourages the development of discernment between different feelings so we can label them appropriately. If we become able to structure our emotional information it will guide our thinking and behavior, towards easier transition into different types of environments facilitating us to achieve our goals.

While emotions are associated with bodily reactions that are activated through neurotransmitters and hormones released by the brain, feelings are the conscious experience of emotional reactions.

Feelings are sparked by emotions and shaped by personal experiences, beliefs, memories, and thoughts linked to that particular emotion.

Strictly speaking, a feeling is the side product of your brain perceiving an emotion and assigning a certain meaning to it.

In summary the difference between emotions and feelings are as described bellow…

Emotions are neuro-physiological reactions unleashed by an external or internal stimulus (emotions are physical). This explains why not being able to decompress trapped emotions as response to environmental stress can erode our cells tissue eventually creating physical and mental struggles.

Feelings are a self-perception of specific emotions, being a  subjective expression of emotions (feelings are mental).

Here are some tips to improve your emotional intelligence:

1. Reflect on your emotions.

2. Assertive communication, but still respectful.

3. Ask for others perspectives.

4. Accept criticism. Ask what you can learn rather than resist.

5. Press the “Pause” button. Allow your attention to your breath, press your tongue towards the roof of your mouth (behind the front teeth) inhale deeply through your nose and when you exhale allow yourself to let go of any resistant feelings that clouds your critical thinking (the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment) process.

6. Practice maintaining your positive attitude regardless of others.

7. Respond rather than reacting to conflict. (Review tip #5).

8. Practice self awareness. Keeping attention into the present moments protects from triggers rooted from unrelated past experiences that might unconsciously boost behavior projections.

9. Explore and understand the “why.”

10. Empathize, Empathize, Empathize.

11. Be observant.

12. Hunt for the good stuff (make inventory of each emotion, looking forward to find something good or a lesson out of each life’s event).

Example:

If a job interview was suddenly cancelled and rescheduled, focus your energy thinking that the Universe is giving you more time to prepare or that it could be heavenly protection from driving on the road that specific day.

13. Journal your thoughts and emotions. It will help you reduce your stress and to learn from your experiences.

14. Allow yourself to embrace yoga. The practice of yoga helps achieve a balance within the internal and external environment, thereby seeking to attain mental, spiritual and physical well-being.

15. Practice always. If you practice at least *21 days how to improve your emotional intelligence you will see the difference making it part of your daily routine.

Last but not least;

” See thru the eyes of compassion. Listen with ears of tolerance. Speak with the language of love.” -Rumi

Author:

Glenda Lee Santos; Retired Veteran and Yoga Warrior; Criminal Justice, BA; RYT-200 hrs; Holistic Practitioner with Foundation in Yoga and Ayurveda; Reiki Master; Spirit Guide Coach; Master Resilience Trainer.

* Scientific research has shown that 21 is the required amount of days to develop cellular memory in order to create a good habit.

How to be mentally strong.

In order to be mentally strong people, we need to recognize our tendency to develop certain patterns of self-sabotage thinking and behavior due to a belief” programming” we absorb from those around us during past experiences.

If this mental state stimulates unwanted anxiety and hurt (depending on the circumstances) we need to start doing something about it.

If we recognize that these old patterns of behavior are not working for us in our present we have the power to stop them from causing more harm than good.

Also accept that if we keep doing what we are always doing we will not be able to let go and move on towards a better state of positive thinking.

Below are some recommendations to improve mental strength:

• Don’t fear alone time.

• Don’t dwell on the past.

• Don’t feel the world owes you.

• Don’t expect immediate results.

• Don’t fear taking calculated risks.

• Don’t give up after the first failure.

• Don’t shy away from responsibilities.

• Don’t worry about pleasing everyone.

• Don’t resent on other people’s success.

• Don’t let others influence emotions

• Don’t waste time feeling sorry for yourself.

• Don’t waste energy on things you can’t control.

Last but not least;

“Your mind is a powerful weapon if you fill it with positive thoughts, your life will start to change in a positive way.”

Author:

Glenda Lee Santos; Humble Military and Yoga Warrior; Criminal Justice, BA; RYT-200 hrs; Holistic Practitioner with Foundation in Yoga and Ayurveda; Reiki Master; Spirit Guide Coach; Master Resilience Trainer.

All Cruelty Springs From Weakness…

There is a natural law of justice and an universal law of Brotherhood.

Greatest good comes from wisdom virtue of what cannot be controlled.

When playing the role or roles we are allotted serenely without complaining; our attitudes are under our control even if destiny is not.

Self control and fortitude is an effective way of mastering destructive emotions; for that encourages inner resilience skills to overcome adversity in life.

Learn to connect with your breath, if you give a try to the practice of different types of breath you will learn how to master the autonomous sympathetic nervous system.

The autonomic nervous system functions to regulate the body’s unconscious actions.

The sympathetic nervous system’s primary process is to stimulate the body’s fight or flight response.

It is, however, constantly active at a basic level to maintain homeostasis homeodynamics.

The sympathetic nervous system is described as being complementary to the parasympathetic nervous system which stimulates relaxation reflex responses.

Such as;

• Feed and breed”

• To rest and digest”

The above two are just a few examples, but there are more that would extremely extend the purpose of this writing.

There are several articles about the importance of the quality during breath connection and synchronization to our daily flow of physical and emotional tasks.

I encourage you to search through the menu and refer to the Breath is Life area where are provided different types of breath, benefits and instructions to their practice.

Last but not least;

God is a rational substance existing in all of nature…

“When you inhale you are taking the strength from God… When you exhale it represents the service you are giving to the world.”-Iyengar

Author:

Glenda Lee Santos; Humble Military and Yoga Warrior; RYT-200 hrs; Criminal Justice, BA; Holistic Practitioner with Foundation in Yoga and Ayurveda; CAI; CCR; CACR; SGC.

WEALTH OF LIFE

Life, a most valuable possession. It gets spend every day whether you live it or not.

Be aware not to waste your life in seedless trivialities that will warrant only loss. 

As a farmer, invest your time preparing the earth that surrounds you with seeds that will only bring joy, even if some may not grow, and others will go to waste. 

The many that you will harvest, will give you joy, sustenance and wealth. 

Be aware that life is a cycle, and as the seasons pass, seeding must once again begin. 

It’s your duty to continue the circle, not out of greed, but to fill the life of those that step in your path without a sense of purpose and an empty life to be filled. 
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

By
Juan B Alvarez