There is a lot of talk in the world of psychology about Emotional Intelligence and how this concept is applied to different areas of behavioral science: clinical, organizations, sports, education…
Studies suggest that emotional intelligence increases our emotional health and helps us perform better in different aspects of our lives. For example, work or studies.
Emotional intelligence, a term made popular by Daniel Goleman, is made up of different elements, specifically five, which are the following:
Self-awareness refers to emotional self-knowledge, which is key to being able to carry out the other elements that make up this concept. Emotional self-regulation means that people have the ability to control our emotions, which is key to relating to others.
Emotionally intelligent people are self-motivated. They are also empathic, so they understand the emotions of others, something that helps them regulate their own behavior. This is key to mastering social skills, so useful for living with other individuals.
Express our emotions, good for us and our relationships
Emotional expression is also an important part of emotional intelligence, which encompasses different aspects of those previously mentioned. For example, being aware of our emotions is necessary for emotional expression to be efficient.
Now, we must learn to express our emotions taking other people into account, and empathy is key to this. Luckily, emotional intelligence can be learned. Being emotionally intelligent provides many advantages when dealing with different day-to-day situations.
But, What benefits does emotional expression provide? In the following lines we explain it to you.
1. It frees you
People who express their emotions feel freer since keeping negative emotions inside is too heavy a burden that prevents you from living fully. Living with anger or desire for revenge can make a person end up becoming ill not only psychologically, but also mentally.
In psychology, the process of releasing negative emotions is known as catharsis. This Greek word refers to purification, and became popular in the field of psychotherapy mainly with the rise of Freudian Psychoanalysis.
2. Greater emotional well-being
Catharsis, therefore, results in an emotional release and a feeling of tranquility, as if the person were leaving behind a great heavy burden that does not allow them to live fully.
The results of this action favor emotional well-being and that is why this concept has been applied in the world of psychological therapy. But Emotional expression is something that must be learned and be part of the way an individual relates in their daily lives.
3. You respect yourself
Many times we do not express ourselves because we are too aware of what others think of ourselves, this means that we do not respect ourselves or connect with our own essence. Respecting yourself includes expressing the emotions we feel. Of course, always in an assertive manner since we must also respect the other person.
You should not be afraid of the reaction of others when you express your emotions, but it is also not a question of expressing these emotions impulsively. Emotional expression is part of emotional intelligence, and it can be learned.
When you express how you feel you can make relationships with other people healthier. As I mentioned, you need to do it with respect. Other people may not always agree with you on all your opinions, but when communication is assertive, the benefits for the relationship are many.
When we show ourselves as we are without fear of our emotions, we project a more authentic personality, something that can increase trust and credibility towards you on the part of other individuals.
5. Empowers you in life
When you don’t care how others think about you, you are in tune with yourself, your desires and your emotions. This is a very powerful tool in life and allows you to grow. Knowing yourself is one of the strong points if what we want is to fight for our personal development. Emotional intelligence allows us to better adapt to the environment and empowers us in the face of change.
Related article: “How to control emotions, with 11 effective strategies”
6. Path to inner peace
Happiness is closely related to finding inner peace, and this is possible as long as we are honest with ourselves and express our emotions appropriately. Living in the present, paying attention to the positive things in life, learning to be yourself and correct emotional management are key to enjoying greater well-being and finding inner peace.
7. Improves interpersonal relationships
The trust and credibility inspired by a person who expresses their emotions appropriately affects positively to interpersonal relationships. Therefore, knowing how to express one’s feelings correctly can unite us with another person and can avoid conflicts that may arise from keeping things inside. Communication is key in any type of relationship, and emotions are part of our lives, so we should not repress them.
