#8 Is mindfulness the whetstone that can sharpen emotional intelligence?

Before delving into the topic, how about defining what mindfulness and emotional intelligence are?

These aspects of human state of mind are subject to a range of interpretations! In my view, mindfulness is a deliberate practice of viewing the present non-judgmentally leading to a higher state of awareness of our emotions and, with practice, our ability to control them.

When confronted with a challenge in the present our response could be guided by emotions, and we may appear as reactive often leading to poor behavior, or worse, make disastrous decisions.

Mindfulness can be thought of as that deliberate pause to absorb feelings of others, a conscious effort to build awareness about the situation, shutting off fears and anxieties about the future and shedding the emotional baggage of the past thereby being in the present, fully and unconditionally.

It requires practice; and meditation is a great way to build mindfulness.

As I read up on this, I found that mindfulness is an essential tenet of Buddhism. The main insight for me was that mindfulness is not about deprivation -that is, withdrawal from all feelings and emotions. It is about a balance - between our rational and emotional self.

Now let's turn to emotional intelligence. It is often hard to define but I will try.

From a personal standpoint the key elements are self-awareness, personal resilience and well-being and from an external standpoint - empathy and social skills. You have heard of high IQ individuals, even geniuses, lead a life of depression and poor social behavior. So, IQ is not correlated with EQ (emotional quotient) or vice versa.

The best part is that EQ can be developed, and mindfulness is one (not the only) tool that can help develop and sharpen emotional intelligence.

As my childhood friend Kris says - "have been practicing meditation or mindfulness for a long number of years now and can vouch for the fact that it significantly impacts the points you mention: self-awareness, personal resilience, empathy. Also, mindfulness doesn't need one to give up any worldly pursuits yet find the right balance between desires, achievement and giving back to society in equal measure. It helps one to find that balance."

Pikee, my colleague, mentioned - "In my spiritual practice I have learnt that true freedom comes from the release of fear, limiting beliefs about ourselves and the world, worries, confusion, negative self-talk! And it became a moment of awakening that has opened doors like never before."

When we collaborate, we create something more valuable. So, thank you Pikee and Kris.