How Emotional Intelligence Helps Us Stay Curious
I’m excited to continue this journey of exploring emotional intelligence through the lens of the Enneagram.
In this edition, we’re looking at emotional triggers. We are living in polarizing times. Political divisiveness is being fueled by anger and “othering”. It is easy to feel “triggered” by those who see the world differently than we do and then villainize the person instead of simply disagreeing with their position. We are collectively losing our curiosity - too certain we know all there is to know about another human being because of a single political position or ideology that differs from our own, instead of taking the time to truly get to know that person and understand why they see what they see.
This tendency of ours isn’t unique to our politics either. The world is changing faster than ever before, which means that the world is more uncertain than perhaps it ever has been. Uncertainty makes us uncomfortable, so the temptation is to fight to hold on to a perspective, an ideal, or a doctrine that helps us feel more certain in a world of uncertainty. We have replaced curiosity and compassion with certainty and criticisms, because the differences between us can feel like a threat to our very sense of values. When our value feels threatened, big emotional reactions ensue.
But what if our emotional triggers aren’t caused by other people or situations?
Read this month’s featured blog below to learn more.
Featured Blog: I Feel Triggered
In our latest blog post, I Feel Triggered, we explore what it means to be "triggered" and how understanding these moments can transform the way you interact with others.
Recommendations
Here are two resources that have inspired me recently and may support your growth in emotional intelligence:
Podcast:
The Resilient Mind with David Creswell by the Evolving Leader Podcast.
A great episode exploring the intersection of emotional regulation, mindfulness, and resilience
Book:
The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haid
A thought-provoking book on how shifts in culture and mindset affect our emotional health and resilience.
Thank you for being part of the EQEnneagram community. I look forward to continuing to share valuable insights, resources, and tools to help you deepen your understanding and practice of emotional intelligence and the Enneagram.
Stay connected, and feel free to reach out with any questions or topics you’d like to see covered in the future.
Warmly,
Scott
