Wisdom and Emotional Intelligence
So, what’s the difference between wisdom and emotional intelligence? There are many definitions of wisdom but most of them focus on a person's knowledge and how they adapt to their environment. Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to identify, utilize, understand, and manage one's emotions in order to think more clearly. Both traits are important in many aspects of life; however there are times when these two traits work together and have synergy with each other while other times when they do not.
This particular blog post explores numerous examples of when wise or emotional competencies blend together within a person's life experience as well as explores ways that people can help increase their own levels of wisdom or emotional intelligence (intellectually or emotionally).
When faced with a situation that is demanding or controversial, wise individuals will listen to their emotions, but still make a conscious decision. Emotional intelligence will dictate when it is appropriate to act upon those emotions and when it is not.
According to the research, wisdom and emotional intelligence are two very different psychological processes that both have strong individual benefits but can be synergistic in certain circumstances. However, the difference between wisdom and emotional intelligence appears to have two dimensions; one dimension deals with how information is processed while the other deals with how an individual acts on that information. Wisdom involves making sense of life events by using knowledge learned through reflection and life experience whereas emotional intelligence involves controlling one's behavior by regulating emotions.
I often find that wise individuals are very aware of their emotions and they do not allow them to control them. However, they do not act on those emotions without a great deal of thought and consideration because they understand that giving into those emotions can have grave consequences. This type of self-control is one aspect of emotional intelligence; the ability to use one's emotions as a guide on how to act in certain situations.
Wise people also make decisions based upon what action will lead to the least amount of pain or suffering for themselves or others. Some psychologists refer to this as an effective decision making style where there is a balance between taking personal responsibility and other factors. Wise people also seem to make decisions faster, are more decisive, have better coping mechanisms and handle change very well. In addition, they are better able to avoid negative behaviors and emotions. It has been theorized that wise people's ability to learn from past experiences is what leads to this wisdom.
The key difference between wisdom and emotional intelligence is that wise people can use their emotions and intellect together; they can think about their feelings. Emotional intelligence refers to the ability of individuals to control their emotions as well as consciously experience them.
Wise people tend to have better coping skills, are intellectually and emotionally stable while they still have a tremendous amount of self-awareness and insight. People who are emotionally intelligent go through life with greater ease because they avoid many negative emotions as well as possess better coping strategies. They usually make more educated decisions without the stress and anxiety associated with fear and anxiety. On the other hand, wise individuals are not always emotionally intelligent because when faced with a stressful situation, if it is not handled appropriately there could be great emotional pain involved. Wise people are also more confident in their decisions because they do not allow fear or anxiety to affect their ability to think rationally about an issue.
It is important to distinguish between the two processes when talking about wisdom and emotional intelligence, but it is also important to make note of the many ways that wise and emotional traits often find each other within the same person. One of the most pivotal times an individual can have both wise and emotional competence is during a crisis or a very challenging situation. During this situation, one may have their emotions out overdrive while they are still able to think rationally; this allows for safe choices to be made without fear or anxiety. This type of situation often occurs when people are faced with challenges such as divorce, loss of employment, retirement, illness or major life change.
Although wise and emotional competencies are very different, it is often very difficult to determine which type of trait is present in a given individual. People who are wise may suddenly become emotionally intelligent when faced with a situation but the reverse can also happen. While people who are emotionally intelligent may not have great coping skills when faced with stressful situations they can easily become wise.
While the research doesn't deny that wise and emotional intelligence are separate traits, there is evidence to suggest that these two types of competencies often find each other within the same person as well as function together extremely well in certain situations. This is due to the fact that wise and emotional intelligence are both skills that require an individual to think about their emotions in order to make a decision while still managing themselves in a stressful or difficult situation. Many times, wise individuals are also emotionally intelligent because they are able to express their emotions in a healthy manner without them controlling them.
Throughout this blog post I have discussed the various benefits of wise and emotional competencies. A list of these benefits includes: better ability to make decisions, be more confident in them, understand problems more clearly, handle stress much better, be less anxious and have greater coping skills. In addition, there is research suggesting that wise people experience more positive emotions and less negative ones than those who are emotionally intelligent.
Regardless of whether your goal is to be wise or emotionally intelligent, it is important to understand that being "wise" and "emotionally intelligent" are both traits that are learned. There is no foolproof formula as these skills are dependent on your life experiences. Understanding how these skills can be learned will help you develop them into positive traits that will promote your overall well-being and happiness.
What Does Being Wise Mean?
The term “wise” first started being used in the 1200s, but it wasn’t until the early 1700s that philosophers started referring to this trait as wisdom. It was first thought of in the Bible as wisdom, the concept that it is a God-given gift, but over time philosophers began to refer to wisdom as being synonymous with intelligence and knowledge. The dictionary defines wisdom as a deep understanding or knowledge that is gained through experience. It also includes possessing the ability to use this knowledge or experience appropriately, which is why many times people refer to wise people as knowing what they are doing. In addition, it can also mean possessing great insight and awareness into one’s self, others and life in general.
The History of Wisdom
Wisdom has been around since humans were first able to speak.
Conclusion
In conclusion, becoming wise is not a simple task; it requires hard work and dedication. Throughout this blog post I have discussed what wisdom as well as its role in developing wisdom and emotional intelligence. A list of the benefits of being wise includes: being able to make decisions, be more confident in them, understanding problems better, handling stress much better, being less anxious and having greater coping skills. In addition, there is research suggesting that wise people experience more positive emotions and less negative ones than those who are emotionally intelligent. In addition to this blog post discussing the traits of wisdom and emotional intelligence you can also check out my other posts on emotional intelligence as this trait is very similar to wisdom.