The hidden secret of emotional intelligence
Life is a matter of moments, not a matter of milestones. To equate wealth with money would be a farcical attempt at defining success. It is a lot more than just that. Relationships, health, spirituality and perspective all attribute to components that either yield or define success. Taking into account that life is indeed a matter of moments, one can presume that successful moments equate to a successful life. But what governs successful moments?
I would attribute intelligence to be the top requirement in obtaining a successful life. But not just any type of intelligence. To figure out what governs successful moments one must look for what creates moments in the first place. It is not materialistic figures that elicit moments, but rather the emotions attached to it. Hence combining emotions and intelligence, I introduce you to my much anticipated well of wealth, emotional intelligence.
“People who are emotionally adapt — who know and manage their feelings well, and who read and deal effectively with other people's feelings — are at an advantage in any domain in life, whether in romance and intimate relationships or picking up the unspoken rules that govern success in organizational politics” (Goleman 36). This quote from the famous psychologist and science journalist Daniel Goleman comes to show the underrated importance of emotional intelligence in our daily lives. Emotional intelligence is the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. This skill is predominant in many instances in life, whether it be asking a girl on a date or trying to handle bankruptcy.
“The Great Gatsby” is a prime example of where the lack of emotional intelligence leads to many tragedies. The central theme of the complex relationship between Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby involves an intermingling of contrasting emotions. They both admire and long each other for reasons that may be classified as fixations. I believe that Gatsby and Daisy loved each other for what they both symbolized to each other. To Gatsby, Daisy represented beauty, class and loyalty. All of which he had longed for. To Daisy, Gatsby came to represent the type of abundant wealth that she gave an utmost importance to in her life. The wealth she was so afraid to lose that she was willing to stay with Tom just for that. This fixation that Gatsby has, becomes evident in the scene of confrontation between Tom and him. “ ‘ You don’t understand’ said Gatsby, with a touch of panic. ‘You’re not going to take care of her any more’ ” (Fitzgerald 108). Gatsby in this scene portrays a delusional man with delusional incentives as he is taken aback by the claim that Daisy did in fact love Tom once, a claim that shattered the perfect image Gatsby had envisioned. This irrational fixation with the image that Daisy symbolized to Gatsby relays the lack of emotional intelligence in both characters for they show a clear inability to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously. It is further supported by the fact that after Gatsby’s death, Daisy decides to stay with Tom and refrain from even attending his funeral.
This example from “The Great Gatsby” shows how the lack of emotional intelligence can develop skewed goals and delusional thoughts that can end up in unsuccessful instances such as death (Gatsby) and unhappy marriages (Daisy). When people are able to effectively handle their inner emotional intelligence towards the greater good they are able to develop practical skills that are essential to success. “Self-awareness, motivation, self-regulation, empathy, and adeptness in relationships” (Goleman 24). Since we are essentially biologically oriented creatures, our perception of success is defined by our biological cues, and these biological cues come under one category that one should be very familiar with. Emotions. If we are able to control the one thing that governs our notion of success and failure, I believe we create a rose covered path to the riches of life that is, success.
Bibliography
Fitzgerald, Scott. The Great Gatsby. London: Arcturus Publishing Limited, 2011.
Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. , 1995.
Goleman, Daniel. Working with Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books, 1998.
I would attribute intelligence to be the top requirement in obtaining a successful life. But not just any type of intelligence. To figure out what governs successful moments one must look for what creates moments in the first place. It is not materialistic figures that elicit moments, but rather the emotions attached to it. Hence combining emotions and intelligence, I introduce you to my much anticipated well of wealth, emotional intelligence.
“People who are emotionally adapt — who know and manage their feelings well, and who read and deal effectively with other people's feelings — are at an advantage in any domain in life, whether in romance and intimate relationships or picking up the unspoken rules that govern success in organizational politics” (Goleman 36). This quote from the famous psychologist and science journalist Daniel Goleman comes to show the underrated importance of emotional intelligence in our daily lives. Emotional intelligence is the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. This skill is predominant in many instances in life, whether it be asking a girl on a date or trying to handle bankruptcy.
“The Great Gatsby” is a prime example of where the lack of emotional intelligence leads to many tragedies. The central theme of the complex relationship between Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby involves an intermingling of contrasting emotions. They both admire and long each other for reasons that may be classified as fixations. I believe that Gatsby and Daisy loved each other for what they both symbolized to each other. To Gatsby, Daisy represented beauty, class and loyalty. All of which he had longed for. To Daisy, Gatsby came to represent the type of abundant wealth that she gave an utmost importance to in her life. The wealth she was so afraid to lose that she was willing to stay with Tom just for that. This fixation that Gatsby has, becomes evident in the scene of confrontation between Tom and him. “ ‘ You don’t understand’ said Gatsby, with a touch of panic. ‘You’re not going to take care of her any more’ ” (Fitzgerald 108). Gatsby in this scene portrays a delusional man with delusional incentives as he is taken aback by the claim that Daisy did in fact love Tom once, a claim that shattered the perfect image Gatsby had envisioned. This irrational fixation with the image that Daisy symbolized to Gatsby relays the lack of emotional intelligence in both characters for they show a clear inability to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously. It is further supported by the fact that after Gatsby’s death, Daisy decides to stay with Tom and refrain from even attending his funeral.
This example from “The Great Gatsby” shows how the lack of emotional intelligence can develop skewed goals and delusional thoughts that can end up in unsuccessful instances such as death (Gatsby) and unhappy marriages (Daisy). When people are able to effectively handle their inner emotional intelligence towards the greater good they are able to develop practical skills that are essential to success. “Self-awareness, motivation, self-regulation, empathy, and adeptness in relationships” (Goleman 24). Since we are essentially biologically oriented creatures, our perception of success is defined by our biological cues, and these biological cues come under one category that one should be very familiar with. Emotions. If we are able to control the one thing that governs our notion of success and failure, I believe we create a rose covered path to the riches of life that is, success.
Bibliography
Fitzgerald, Scott. The Great Gatsby. London: Arcturus Publishing Limited, 2011.
Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. , 1995.
Goleman, Daniel. Working with Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books, 1998.