Emotional Intelligence Archives - Page 6 of 26

Why You Should Give Meditation a Second Look

Emotional Intelligence, Mindfulness / My Holland

It doesn’t sound like fun for many people. Nor is it the kind of relaxing activity we might indulge in. Maybe, images of people in a lotus position practicing an Indian or Buddhist discipline came to mind when you saw this article’s title. You might be thinking of Yoga, which is not the same as meditation. However, the latter is part of the former. According to Wikipedia, meditation is: “…a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.” So, what’s the big deal about mediation? Benefits of Meditation According to research by neuroscientist Sara Lazar, people who practiced mindfulness meditation had more grey matter in their brains’ frontal cortex. This is responsible for decision-making, personality expression, and controlling social behavior. The frontal cortex also mobilizes thoughts and actions in goal pursuits. In another study by the Dept. of Neurology of UCLA, meditation helps protect the brain from aging. So now we have two independent researchers arriving at almost the same conclusion. However, scientists believe more studies have to be made. You’d agree it’s something to think about. I’ve been spending an hour each day solving puzzles since it’s been said that this exercises the left and right sides of our brains. But it seems that we can do more to improve our minds and general well-being. For now, let’s focus on one type – mindfulness meditation. Here are its benefits you may not be aware of. Meditation decreases activity in the area of the brain responsible for mind-wandering. This is according to a study at Yale University. A wandering mind is often an unhappy mind. Meditation increases focus on the here and now. Meditation is as good as antidepressants, according to Madhav Goyal of Johns Hopkins. It’s not a cure for depression, but it can help people cope with symptoms. A few minutes of meditation each day can reduce anxiety and relieve stress. Meditation improves memory. People who meditate are less impulsive and are more in control of their emotions. This leads to healthier personal and professional relationships. Meditation can lower blood pressure. Types of Meditation There are other kinds of meditation aside from mindfulness. We’ll just briefly go over each and maybe you’ll be interested in one should you give meditation a try. Spiritual. Connect through prayer and in silence with your God or whatever you call a higher being or power. With Religions like Hinduism and Christianity, essential oils are burned as incense. Zen Meditation. This is part of Buddhism, but the movies associate it with martial arts. Shaolin monks fighting evil is a common theme. This type can be considered spiritual too. One of the aims of Zen meditation is to experience an awakening of the mind. Body Scan. The main focus of this type is our physical bodies. The aim is to relax every part from head to toe to relieve tension. This could be done while sitting in a quiet and comfortable room. Mantra Meditation. This is another type popularized by movies or television. Monks in a mountain monastery chanting “Om” is a familiar scene depicted in many films. Chants may differ, but the goal is to be one with your environment. Compassion Meditation. It’s also known as loving-kindness. Sensing and sending love while in meditation is this type’s goal. Practitioners learn to love themselves and everyone. Transcendental Meditation. Commonly associated with out-of-body experiences, the aim is to rise above one’s being. It can also be spiritual and a mantra can be chanted. Meditation is not for everyone. But, think of the benefits. Thankfully, there are several videos of short meditation exercises on YouTube. You should give it a try just to satisfy your curiosity. Who knows, it might work for you.

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Your Career Can Affect your Children

Compassion, Emotional Intelligence / My Holland

Undoubtedly, the career choices we make will affect our families. Now, because both parents are at work, children are either at school or in the care of babysitters. How has their development been affected? It’s a good question. You might be surprised to learn that most kids with working dads and moms turn out to be okay. According to this study, it doesn’t matter if mothers work during a child’s early years. As long as parents prioritize family over their jobs, it’s unlikely kids would exhibit behavioral problems. When dads and moms share responsibility in parenthood, the effects are positive. The research showed that their children, in fact, were emotionally healthy. No organization we know of requires employees to continue working after leaving the office or clocking out. But, the digital age has enabled parents to conveniently attend to work-related tasks from home. It’s their choice if they do so, by the way. When they do, they might be causing harm to their kids. “There are bills to pay and mouths to feed.” This has been the justification of breadwinners when they put career over their family. In fact, many will say they’ve given up their passion for jobs that paid well. Unhappy and stressed-out, they’re giving their kids the impression that money takes precedence over everything. Children see their parents as role models. Young minds are like sponges that absorb everything. A father’s psychological or emotional absence has a strong effect on children. This lack of engagement directly influences a child’s behavior. On the other hand, children are barely affected when mothers spend time on themselves and less on house chores. When housework is shared with partners, mothers have more significant time for their kids. The current pandemic has imposed changes in everybody’s lives. More people are working from home, which will be the norm even after a cure is found. The benefits for both employers and employees cannot be ignored. Just think of the savings from leasing less space and travel time saved. For parents, more quality time can be spent with their kids. So, how can mom and dad balance work and home life? Here are a few suggestions. Prepare any meal during the day. Eat at least one meal with the whole family. Never talk about work while eating. Instead, talk to the kids. Set aside time to speak individually with each child. Breaks when working remotely can be used to spend time with children. Read them a story, have fun with a coloring book or play catch. Turn off all gadgets, including the TV and PC. Always have a family day. Make it up with your child if you miss something important, like a game or a play. Never forget to say “I love you” to each member of your family. Having less time at home means using it wisely. The first step is to transition from a professional to a parent once we enter the door. It should be a conscious effort. Nurturing children doesn’t mean sacrificing one’s dreams. In fact, people with happy family lives are often successful in their careers. We may reach the top position in any organization, but there is always one constant – the family. Here’s an interesting article you should read. It’s a reminder of what really matters. You can achieve as much as you want in your career. Just don’t forget the kids.

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A Bit of Worry is Good

Awareness, Emotional Intelligence / My Holland

There so much to be anxious about nowadays. According to the World Bank, the world is in a recession and COVID-19 is not only keeping a lot of people in poverty but creating a new class of poor. The adverse economic effects may already be affecting you. Stuff you weren’t worried about a year ago might be taking center stage in your life now. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” is a Grammy Award-winning song by Bobby McFerrin. What would you think if you were told you can worry and be happy? You’d be skeptical, but honestly, this can be true for anybody. So, how about you turn the tables on anxiety? All you need to do is modify your thoughts and practice emotional intelligence. The causes and effects of worry There are medical conditions that give rise to anxiety. It’s not limited to the mind. A doctor may prescribe treatment that includes medication. On the other hand, external factors can cause anxiety. Stress at work, uncertainty, financial difficulties and relationships are examples. If left unchecked, these can dictate how you live your life. Sleepless nights, lack of focus, compulsiveness, nervousness, headaches and stomach pains are signs of an anxious person. In extreme cases, too much worry can become paralyzing. But, as you already know, inaction or reacting poorly to a situation often results from the mishandling of anxiety. How you deal with anxiety matters People cope with worries differently. Emotionally intelligent persons recognize the signs when they become anxious. They do not ignore their emotions but rather take stock of what they are feeling. Understanding leads to proper management of their worries. Here’s how they respond to anxiety. Anxiety as a Warning People have a built-in warning system primarily for survival. This can be traced back all the way to early humans. People with high EQ recognize that their anxiety might be telling them to exercise caution. Also, it might be alerting them to entirely avoid an act or a situation. How many times have you stopped yourself from entering a dark alley or an unknown environment because you started feeling apprehensive? Anxiety as Motivation Everyone worries about their health, especially during this pandemic. Emotionally intelligent people use anxiety as motivation. As a result, they exercise, observe health protocols and watch closely what they eat. They also motivate others to do the same. A survey of Asian-Pacific countries, published in May 2020, showed that most Vietnamese became more apprehensive because of the current pandemic. On the surface, this looked bad. But, the total COVID-19 cases in that nation were among the lowest in the region. In fact, Vietnam, which shares a long border with China, ranked 165th globally in case counts. It’s not a stretch to speculate that extreme worry played a role in driving the Vietnamese to act quickly and take drastic measures to contain the virus. A BBC article even stated that Vietnam’s overreaction saved the country from a full-blown outbreak. Anxiety encourages preparation Have you experienced stress before a meeting or an interview? Did it occur to you that you were worried because you were not fully prepared? When anxious, people with high EQ diligently prepare for any activity that has significance to their professional or personal lives. They don’t leave anything to chance. Conversely, in the event things don’t go their way, they are prepared for the worst. They accept failure and learn from it. It may even make them more anxious to do better in the future instead of wallowing in misery. Happy and successful people live with anxiety every day. But, they never let it control their lives. Don’t deny or ignore worry the next time you experience it. Instead, master and seek the good from it.

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Emotional Intelligence

Why You Should Give Meditation a Second Look

Your Career Can Affect your Children

A Bit of Worry is Good

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