Friday, December 1, 2017

How to Use Emotional Intelligence

Given today’s social and political climate, I would say we are struggling with our emotional intelligence. We struggle to see from other perspectives, especially on issues we care about, for a number of reasons. Maybe we know that the other perspectives are wrong, stupid even. Maybe they don’t know what they’re talking about and that if they had done their research they would finally see that you’re right. Maybe we just flat out don’t care enough to do so. We surround ourselves with people that agree with ourselves, which is just fine. We say we would give the other side room to present their argument, but in reality we’re just going to ignore and ridicule them. I see this from myself often enough whenever a certain political figure uses social media. So is it a lack of emotional intelligence? Is there any to begin with?

I, personally, find it hard to empathize with people that support a certain political party. It sounds ignorant but it’s true. Do I really care to hear about what they say? No. Why should I? They’re ignorant and so far removed from reality that there’s no point in acknowledging them. Do they listen to me when I make my points? No. We’re finally equal and no one has changed.

When we talked about emotional intelligence, we discussed its power through art and literature, how we can see ourselves in similar situations, how we can feel the same feelings as the artist or author did. Emotional intelligence is something that, I think, pushes boundaries and expands horizons in finding yourself in somebody else. During the election, I was afraid, as was half of the country. That phrasing, though, should change if we are to employ emotional intelligence. Right? The whole country was afraid, afraid that the other candidate would change everything for the worse. Now that one has won, the other half no longer validates their feelings. I am certainly guilty of it. But how can I say that I keep an open mind and value all perspectives when I really don’t. I don’t want to see myself in any of them, I don’t want to agree with any aspect of their positions. Sure we can talk about it but in the end I still won’t agree. It all seems rather pointless.


So, I guess, my question is, how can we promote or use emotional intelligence in way that is productive and progressive? 

1 comment:

  1. I think that when we think of emotional intelligence, we focus too much on the outer world. Granted, it is definitely an outer world tool, one we should use to better understand other's perspectives, especially those that are drastically different than our own. However, I do not think that this is the sole purpose of this tool. David Bohm was able to use emotional intelligence in a way that helped him better understand his work and individual beliefs literally while being persecuted for those beliefs. I think that this is one way we can use the tool progressively. Rather than attempting to empathize with statements and opinions which are outside of our own, we can attempt to better understand why we think the way we do. Why is it so hard for us to accept or even listen to the opposing arguments? This inner dialogue, I think, is an important emotional intelligence facet as well.

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