“No one truly knows what another person is going through, and behind every situation lies a story and a process,” something we learn over the years and through experience. Now, as we live in times of chaos, crisis, individualism, and deep division, emotional intelligence is being discussed as an option to face the various challenges of daily life.
Though it’s a modern concept that may seem simple, applying it in today’s complex world is not easy. Every day, triggering situations arise that emotionally destabilize the most vulnerable and those who lack the ability to effectively control and manage their emotions.
It’s not that people are increasingly losing their sanity, as many sometimes judge.
Emotional imbalances are a consequence of social conflicts and the influence of the cultural and social environment in which people survive. Recent reports from the World Health Organization on global mental health show that children, adolescents, and older adults are the most vulnerable populations for developing mental disorders.
While awareness of the importance of mental health has grown, the outlook remains alarming, with rising rates of disorders such as anxiety, depression, suicide, and illnesses related to substance abuse and eating disorders.
We’ve always heard that the mind and heart are the most unpredictable and emotionally complex organs because they cannot be controlled, and we never know how they will react to a triggering situation. That’s why more work must be done on what experts call Emotional Intelligence—nothing more than the ability to manage one’s own emotions and those of others effectively, without falling into provocations or violent reactions that lead to a loss of sanity and actions taken without awareness.
Self-control, relaxation, strengthening communication and relationship skills, and avoiding isolation are some of the recommendations for achieving emotional balance and preventing emotions from collapsing in the face of a traumatic, tragic, or difficult situation, destabilizing actions and thoughts.
Increasing the ability to listen, recognizing warning signs in others, staying informed, and properly managing available help and treatments can not only save one’s own life but also the lives of others who may collapse when faced with situations that confront them and leave them without a way out.
By Omaira Martínez Cardona – Colombian Journalist
