EMOTIONS & PSYCHOLOGY
The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Relationships
Let’s say you find yourself on the receiving end of your partner’s anger. They’re so upset that they blame you for mistakes you know you didn’t make. Their behavior angers you.
How will you respond? Will you consider other factors in your response, or will you just act on your emotions?
Knowing how to respond instead of react in this kind of situation can show how emotionally intelligent you are.
Before we proceed, let’s first define emotional intelligence.
Emotional Intelligence or EI as defined in Mental Health America, is “the ability to manage both your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you.” It has five components: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.
So why is it important? And how can emotional intelligence help relationships thrive?
EI helps couples make better decisions and resolve conflict
In a relationship, conflicts are inevitable. Emotional intelligence equips you to handle stressful situations in a sensitive and productive way. It can even help you prevent unnecessary conflict by making better decisions to begin with.
EI promotes empathy, which allows you to recognize and respect each other’s boundaries. You invest in the time and effort to get to know your partner and learn to see their value and integrity.
EI is linked to self-awareness, which means you’re aware of your own needs and emotions, and know how to take responsibility for them. It also leads to self-regulation, which is the ability to manage your reactions to your feelings and to what’s happening around you.
Emotional intelligence is also the knowledge that you can’t control the feelings and behavior of others, but that your behavior does have an effect on them.
Couples who are emotionally intelligent are more likely to talk through their problems and work together to resolve them rather than react emotionally and lash out at each other.
EI makes you an effective communicator
We all know how important communication is. It’s the foundation of any strong relationship.
Emotional intelligence is your ability to express your sentiments clearly, sincerely, and respectfully.
Moreover, emotionally intelligent individuals are skilled listeners who truly hear what others are expressing. This fosters an environment of trust and openness.
Emotionally intelligent communication allows couples to enjoy feelings of intimacy and the freedom to be vulnerable with each other.
Emotional intelligence can be developed
Emotional intelligence is something that people can build on. It’s similar to people being born with a level of mental intelligence that they can work with and improve through reading, problem solving, and social interactions.
There’s no need to wait until you’re in a romantic relationship before you start developing your EI. It starts with you as an individual. Try being more self-reflective, giving yourself the time to understand your motivations and emotions. You should also practice active listening so you can be more in touch with others.
Conclusion
Emotional intelligence plays a pivotal role in building and maintaining meaningful relationships.
With EI, couples are better able to understand themselves and each other. They imbue their relationship with kindness, caring, and mutual commitment that are essential to living a life of happiness and fulfillment together.
Also published on Medellin Singles
