Conversation on Mental Wellbeing
Today, I want to share some thoughts on Emotional Intelligence, a concept that revolves around recognising, understanding, and managing emotions.
Although Daniel Goleman popularised the theory, many philosophers long before him explored the role emotions play in our lives. Socrates, with his famous "Know Yourself," laid the groundwork for what we now call self-awareness. Epicurus, on the other hand, warned that "Anxiety is the greatest destroyer of happiness", a sentiment now echoed by holistic healers and medical professionals alike.
The Importance of Self-Awareness in a Virtual Reality-Dominated World
In today’s fast-paced, hyper-digital society, self-awareness is more crucial than ever. We are constantly bombarded with distractions, making it easy to lose touch with our inner selves. While self-regulation is often highlighted as a key component of EI, it cannot exist in isolation. After all, how can we regulate emotions we don’t even understand?
Daniel Goleman identified five core elements of Emotional Intelligence:
- Self-Awareness – Understanding your own emotions and their impact.
- Self-Regulation – Managing emotional reactions in a constructive way.
- Motivation – Harnessing emotions to drive personal and professional growth.
- Empathy – Recognising and understanding the emotions of others.
- Social Skills – Navigating social interactions with emotional awareness.
While these principles are simple in theory, integrating them into daily life requires time, patience, and conscious effort. Deep emotional understanding isn’t something we can achieve in two minutes of superficial reflection. It takes practice, self-exploration, and, most importantly, stepping outside the digital world to engage with reality.
True personal growth and emotional balance come from regular, intentional effort. If we are constantly absorbed in virtual experiences that have little connection to our real lives, we risk losing touch with what truly matters, our emotional well-being and human connection.
I hope this encourages you to delve deeper into Emotional Intelligence and its transformative power. Soon you will be able to access a series of talks on Emotional Intelligence on our Agora Health App, where we’ll explore these topics in greater depth.
As I conclude, know that you are not alone on this path to better health and wellness. Your journey is unique but together we form a community of strength and support.
Let’s thrive together,
Cristina x