In 1983, Howard Gardner, a professor at Harvard, published Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. In the book, he presented one type of intelligence that everyone must develop if they want to be successful. That is emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to identify and regulate your own emotions. It means having a deep understanding of yourself, knowing your own strengths and weaknesses, and handling reactions and emotions wisely. Emotional intelligence is critical for success in almost any field and it is especially important for high-stress environments, for example, when times are tough and when a person wants to quit or is fearful.
We all know highly emotional people. Rather than react wisely, they tend to let their emotions run their lives, often saying or doing something they may later regret. I've seen many people do this on social media, getting in arguments with loved ones over trivial stuff because they have different opinions. This inability to master the self leads to many struggles and heartaches for people.
Emotional intelligence does not mean being void (没有) of emotions. It means you know it is okay to be angry, just not out-of-control angry. You know it's okay to feel hurt, but it is not okay to do something stupid in the name of revenge (报复). Many of us know people who are very intelligent, but allow their emotions to damage their lives.
Now, reflect on how you manage your emotions. Are you smart in the way you express what you're feeling, especially when the pressure is on?
It's important to keep your emotions under control, so when you get hurt, you should neither get angry nor do stupid things for revenge.
