Emotion Intelligence Awareness and Regulation is Now Or Never
Aristotle in his book “The Nichomachean Ethics” asserts : "Anybody can become angry 
that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way 
that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.”
This statement sums up the importance of
appropriateness of our emotions.
Being angry is easy. Showing anger is easy. What becomes tough is the way we regulate and channelise our emotions. That s the challenge that Aristotle throws at us - a daunting but surmountable challenge.
Recently, we ve heard a lot of talks about EQ and its role in the growth of individuals. The concept of EQ comes as a contrast to the traditional view that IQ was the only thing that could determine the success of the individuals. For a long time, this view was taken to be carved in stone - unchallenged and assimilated in our consciousness unquestioningly.
But now with a plethora of scientific research going on with respect to the functioning of our brain, we now have accepted the fact that it is EQ or El which holds the card for our success in life.
The components of EQ include self-awareness, self- regulation, empathy, motivation, and social skills. These components affect various areas of life such as education, work , and relationship.
In the area of EQ, Daniel Goleman s work on Emotional Intelligence was groundbreaking when it came out in 1995. He argued in his book EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE that EQ plays a key role in personal and professional development. Goleman explains how the Amygdala ( the emotional centre of the brain ) and Prefrontal Cortex (
rational part of the brain) interacts often resulting in "emotional hijacking".
Emotional hijacking occurs when emotions override logic. Mastering of EQ helps in balancing the interaction between the two.
Propogators of EQ finds its application in different walks of life :
- Schools : Advocates of teaching EQ skills emphasize that teaching it can help students to be empathetic and reduce their regressive behaviour.
- Workplace : At workplaces, EQ enhances teamwork and leadership. It helps in understanding each other better and their concerns better.
- Personal life : Inculcation of EQ skills helps in improving relationship, emotional well-being, as well as helps in reducing stress and conflict.
Goleman's book has influenced curriculum of the schools, training of the corporate professionals, as well as different psychological approaches. To cultivate the EQ, he suggests self-reflection, mindfulness, empathy practice.
Now looking back at the early development of the capacities of the children, we should ask a couple of questions: what can we change that will help our children do better in life? What factors are at play when people of high IQ struggle while those of low IQ do well? Well, the difference lies in a bundle of skills which is known as El in totality.
The good news regarding these skills is that these can be taught to the children. These can be inculcated by a proper set of programs. When these children learn and develop their emotional capacity, they tend to take ethical stance in the society as well. So, the learning and assimilation of emotional intelligence helps in the diffusion of decency, civility and an honourable moral standing by its propagators.
On the other hand, when we become impulsive, we lose our self-control. This lack of self-control reflects in moral deficiency of the individuals. It's a serious issue which can have devastating influence on the society. To overcome this deficiency, we need to have a firm will and a stagnant character. We, then, truly can overcome this weakness.
Finally, when we inculcate the quality of empathv. we automatically become altruistic. In this world of coldness, callousness, and indifference, we need to hold each other's hand tight and walk the rope without fear.
If we could only imbibe two moral stances of our times : se/f-restroint and compassion, we could be better by miles and the society could thrive peacefully.
