Emotional Maturity

Hello everyone out there!  I left my Joy post up as long as I could.  However, I recently found a resource that is useful to me and perhaps to others.  Paula recently mentioned using her chain for stress reduction that she introduced to us earlier.  As I  have been burdened more with stress, I wanted to learn more.

Reading online, I came across this article about rapid stress reduction.  It discusses the ways people react under a lot of stress.  It also brings up simulating your senses for stress relief, which is related to what Paula shared.

Some highlights:

How we respond to stress (I respond with the foot on both):

• Foot on the gas – An angry or agitated stress response. You’re heated, keyed up, overly emotional, and unable to sit still.
• Foot on the brake – A withdrawn or depressed stress response. You shut down, space out, and show very little energy or emotion.
• Foot on both – A tense and frozen stress response. You “freeze” under pressure and can’t do anything. You look paralyzed, but under the surface you’re extremely agitated.

What kind of sensory input one may need:

• Speed up, if you are a person who is spaced out or depressed
• Slow down, if you are a person who is angry or agitated
• Help get unstuck, if you are a person who is frozen with anxiety

The above-mentioned article considers quick stress relief as one of five skills for raising emotional intelligence.

• Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 1: The ability to quickly reduce stress.
• Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 2: The ability to recognize and manage your emotions.
• Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 3: The ability to connect with others using nonverbal communication.
• Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 4: The ability to use humor and play to deal with challenges.
• Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 5: The ability to resolve conflicts positively and with confidence.

 This article discusses on how of these skills build on the previous skills.  I feel that would be true.  Everything on this list relates to what I work on.  I would also say tolerance to change is another skill for emotional intelligence.  Also, the ability to see the world in more than just black and white.