by Alex the Cosmic Therapist
The COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges to relationships around the world. Today, with many couples working from home and facing economic stress, it has never been more important for couples to develop strong emotional intelligence skills to maintain and deepen their connection. Daniel Goleman, a leading psychologist and expert on emotional intelligence, has identified four key components that can help couples navigate these challenges and form a deeper connection with one another.
Self-Awareness: Self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence. It involves understanding one’s own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. In the face of the unique stressors brought on by the pandemic, it is more important than ever for couples to be self-aware. By understanding their own emotional reactions, couples can better navigate conflicts and avoid misunderstandings that can damage the relationship.
Self-Management: Self-management is the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in response to situations and interactions. With the added stress of the pandemic, it is important for couples to develop self-management skills to avoid letting their emotions spiral out of control and instead respond in a calm and rational manner. By doing so, couples can maintain a healthy and positive relationship even in the face of adversity.
Social Awareness: Social awareness involves understanding the emotions, thoughts, and perspectives of others. With many couples working from home and facing economic stress, it can be easy for misunderstandings to arise. By developing social awareness, couples can better understand each other’s perspective and avoid conflicts that could damage the relationship.
Relationship Management: The final component of emotional intelligence is relationship management. This involves using emotional intelligence to navigate the complexities of relationships and resolve conflicts. By developing strong relationship management skills, couples can effectively communicate and resolve conflicts in a positive manner, building a stronger connection with one another even in the face of adversity.
We can break down what used to seem so out of our control within these four domains of emotional intelligence. Demystifying the nuances of human emotion helps make the more difficult moments, easier.
Emotional intelligence is a critical factor in forming a deeper connection in couples. By developing self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management skills, couples can navigate challenges and create a stronger, more meaningful relationship.
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