By Gina M. Barrett.
At a time when mental illness is on the rise in the U.S., adopting emotional intelligence becomes more necessary for day-to-day resilience. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. More than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. Over one in five youth (ages 13-18) either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.” (Accessed May 15, 2024).
What is emotional intelligence? I understand it as mental health awareness, inner awareness and the ability to self-regulate one’s own emotions and choosing to grow.
According to Harvard Business School Online Business Insights, “Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to understand and manage your emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of those around you.” (Accessed on May 14, 2024). The more academic definition listed on the American Psychological Association website is very similar.
Who is adopting emotional intelligence? People who look inward on a daily basis and own their part in creating their own reality. Those who acquire emotional self-regulation techniques and use them daily. Individuals who muster up the courage to communicate face-to-face versus texting, emailing, being passive aggressive, ghosting or triangulating (gossiping and involving a third party to help you communicate or vent indirectly).
How do you adopt emotional intelligence?
~Take time to get to know yourself and what you need to experience joy and/or self-regulate trauma symptoms, coming into a state of more grace and ease. Create time to have those experiences.
~Tend to your mental health with self-care using self-soothing activities like taking a bath with candles and aromatherapy or going to the hot springs.
~Learn emotional self-regulation techniques like breathing exercises you can practice when feeling dysregulated. Dysregulation is when your emotions feel out of balance. Like when you feel mild anxiety or depression.
There are many simple techniques you can practice to bring yourself back into balance emotionally. One might be to take a walk in nature. Something that is easily accessible to us here in Crestone. This is a great time of year to start a nature bathing routine. (See my first issue of Navigating the Vortex, November 2023 issue for more on nature bathing).
~Seek support from a qualified therapist as needed to work through more challenging issues or transitions.
~Plan regular retreats for deeper inner exploration and growth. You can create your own home silent and/or self care retreats, take seasonal self-created retreat trips to nearby hot springs or nature spots, or join a facilitated retreat.
~Get comfortable with alone time to do your inner work and build emotional resilience. One’s ability to handle difficult situations and many emotions at the same time that may be stirred up in the energy vortex. We are invited to do deeper personal transformation here.
~Create a mental health “tool kit” to address what comes up with loving self-care.
~Always get the support you need when things get too much or out of your skill set. Whether that be talking to a friend or seeking the help of a therapist or spiritual counselor. We are fortunate to have several qualified mental health practitioners right here in Crestone.
Emotional intelligence will serve you when living in and navigating the vortex.
Citations:
About mental health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Accessed on May 6, 2024 at www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm.
Emotional intelligence. APA Dictionary of Psychology, American Psychological Association. Accessed on May 15, 2024 at www.dictionary.apa.org/emotional-intelligence.
Why emotional intelligence is important in leadership. Business Insight. Accessed May 14, 2024 at www.online.hbs.edu/blog/post/emotional-intelligence-in-leadership. Accessed May 14, 2024
*These are suggestions and not meant to be a prescription for your unique individual needs. Practice with awareness and agency. Seek a medical professional to discuss your options.*
Many of Gina’s suggestions can be found in her free ebook Connection Post Pandemic, 2nd edition of Lighter: Living Tantra.
Gina M. Barrett, MIA, C-IAYT is an international author, trauma informed yoga therapist, somatic eastern movement educator and equine therapist. To learn more about Gina and to receive her ebook, visit www.ginambarrett.com.