Boost Your Emotional EQ

Learn to bolster good feelings

by Hallie Levine


Life isn't always easy, but there are ways to strengthen inner reserves. Here are four ways to be better equipped to deal with any crisis--big or small.

But before you read our tips, make sure you take our Emotional EQ quiz.

Cultivate Social Connections
Belonging to a club, attending religious services, or volunteering may be as beneficial to your long-term health as regular exercise, suggests research. "We think it's because all these activities provide social support, which relieves stress and helps boost emotional energy," says study author Joseph Grzywacz, PhD, a professor of family and community medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Try Emotional Kung Fu
Be inspired by this ancient art of self-defense and use attacking force to your advantage. "Instead of using up energy ruminating about an attack or trying to defend yourself, use your resources as a way to recast it as an attack on the problem rather than on you," suggests Charles Manz, PhD, a Nirenberg chaired professor of business leadership at the University of Massachusetts and the author of Temporary Sanity. Next time your coworker criticizes your leadership skills, don't waste your energy by getting mad. Instead, ask her how she would have handled the situation. The result: less self-blame, more productivity.

Keep a Journal
"At the end of a long, stressful day, take 15 minutes and jot down your feelings," suggests Bruce Rabin, MD, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Healthy Lifestyle Program. Research has found that people who write about upsetting thoughts are healthier and happier than those who keep them bottled up.

Let Your Emotions Out
Women who ruminate have higher blood pressure and risk of depression and anxiety than do those who express their emotions more freely. The best way to deal with a feeling--whether it's sadness or anger--is to express it to someone, preferably a trusted friend or family member, and then try to let it go.


Hallie Levine is a freelance writer in New York City who has written about health and fitness for more than 20 national publications, including Glamour, Newsweek, and the New York Post.

taked from http://www.prevention.com/