Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Ian Maclaren.
Out of control emotions can make smart people stupid — Daniel Goleman.
Regrettably, we are all vulnerable to the nuances of our id (animal) self while dealing with our own emotions and while responding to the emotions of others.
This regrettably leads to hurting those around us, and quite often, unknowingly.
Stoicism and Emotional Intelligence are correlative approaches in the journey of life, especially when dealing with emotions.
Stoicism asserts that wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance are essential for a good life and that individuals should focus on what they can control, their thoughts and actions, while accepting what they cannot control, external events and other people's behavior. Stoicism, in a nutshell, teaches Emotional Intelligence.
Emotional intelligence focuses on understanding and managing our own emotions
and those of others. Both philosophies encourage self-reflection and personal
growth, enabling individuals to respond to challenges with greater composure
and effectiveness.
It is imperative to note that stoicism and emotional
intelligence help us build stronger relationships, succeed at work,
academically, and achieve our career and personal goals. It allows us to have
more control over our behaviours and decision-making.
Stoicism is a logical philosophy that affirms that while we
may never control everything that happens, we can always control how we
respond.
The following emotional intelligence skills are fundamental
to our daily life and how we impact others through how we manage our emotions.
Self-management.
We are all
able to control our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, manage our emotions in
healthy ways, take initiative, follow through on commitments, and adapt to
changing circumstances.
Self-awareness. We should always recognize our own
emotions and how they affect our thoughts, behavior, and how they impact others.
Social
awareness.
We live in a social context and should empathize and understand the concerns,
feelings, perspectives, and behaviours of others.
Relationship
management.
You know how to develop and maintain good relationships, communicate clearly,
inspire and influence others, work well in a team, and manage conflict.
Emotional skills are a key foundation for good mental health
and overall well-being, which remains a significant public health problem. They
improve interactions, allowing us to be empathetic and form healthy connections with
others.
Emotional skills lead to success in workplaces due to their
positive impact on collaboration, teamwork, leadership, and organizational
performance.
Emotions are necessary for our academic and life success.
They facilitate students and individuals to circumnavigate challenges, become
nimble learners, and achieve personal goals in life.
It's imperative to note that we live in a social setting and
we ought to be sensitive to our own emotions and those of others. This will, conversely, lead to mutual understanding and harmony in society.
Eliud Muriithi, Director Commercial Services, KEMSA
