Therapist's Guide to Clinical Intervention - Sigmund Freud

EMOTIONAL IQ
17. Stay with it. Persevere. Never quit. Eventually you will accomplish what is
important to you.
18. Be committed to being your best. If you stick with it, it will come true.
19. Reward yourself for your efforts. Sometimes the accomplishment is the
reward itself. Other times, create a reward that is waiting for you at the
finish line.
20. Always have things to look forward to. Anticipate things that are going to be.
How exciting!
Each day carries with it its own significance in our lives. It is not what happens to us that
necessarily creates problems; it is the manner in which we choose to deal with the event.
Emotional IQ plays an important role in our personal and professional success. Some of the
central qualities that make up emotional intelligence are the following:
1. Self-awareness
A. The ability to recognize a feeling as it happens
B. Increased awareness and understanding of "gut feeling"
C. Being able to answer the following two questions objectively. They address taking
responsibility for your own choices and an understanding of the motivation behind
the choice of response.
1. "What am I doing?"
2. "Why am I doing it?"
2. Mood management
A. We generally have little control over experiences that provoke or result in negative
emotional experiences (anger, frustration, hurt feelings). However, we do have the
choice/self-control over how we feel, how long, and how we demonstrate the
feelings we have. For example, the more you think about how angry you are, the
angrier you get.
B. Reframe. When situations are emotionally difficult, choose to reinterpret the
situation in a realistic or more positive light.
C. Take time to yourself to calm yourself down and think clearly
D. Don't waste time on negatives. If you have control over something, deal with it in a
productive manner and then move on. If you do not have control over it, let the
other person own it.
E. Distract yourself from negatives with positives
F Engage in self-care
1. Meditation
2. Prayer
3. Formal relaxation techniques
4. Regular exercise
5. Adequate rest and good nutrition
6. Positive use of resources
G. Be aware of your mood and thoughts about your mood
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