IQ,
EQ, Enlightenment -
the Evolution of Intelligence
by
Keith Beasley
Although
the first reference to EQ these days is the work of Daniel
Goleman in 1995, the term was actually coined a few years
earlier . . . in an article I wrote in 1987 for the British
Mensa magazine!
As
most of you will know, Mensa is the society for those with
high IQ and the gist of my article was to highlight another
aspect of human 'intelligence' - i.e. emotional sensitivity
and an awareness of feelings. The feature was so well received
that I was able to set up a Special Interest Group - The Sensitive
SIG, within British Mensa. In the newsletter of the SIG (then
called 'Hearts & Minds') members shared their experiences
of being both intelligent and sensitive . . . often harrowing,
particularly in the harsh business world. It's thus pleasing
to see EQ being taken up by commercial organisations . . .
and not before time!
During
my years running Mensa's Sensitive Sig, I learnt much about
my own sensitive nature and, in hindsight, would now identify
that period as an important step in my own personal and professional
development. Indeed, it corresponded to my first attempts
to 'sort myself out' . . . and bring an end to failed relationships.
That's been an interesting journey, but one that I'm now helping
others take. I'd go as far as to call it not just 'finding
ourselves' . . . but working towards enlightenment!
Any
journey involving Emotional Intelligence is about becoming
aware . . . of the ways in which we're particularly sensitive
. . . and why; of the feelings and needs of others . . . and
the differences between us. Gradually, if we have and pursue
a desire for a higher truth on our EQ path, so we free ourselves
from our own emotional baggage and the conditioning of our
early life and the expectations of others. Such shedding of
'stuff' is a prerequisite of any spiritual journey.
From
recognising and working on my conditioned sensitivity, my
own path took me down the psychic road: I found I could dowse
. . . quite a shock to my scientific mind! Then I took up
Reiki Healing, finding that I (like all of us) was able to
bring a sense of well-being (if not inner peace or relief
from physical symptoms) to myself and others. As I mixed with
healers and those on various self development and spiritual
growth paths so I realised that this EQ was a significant
part of acknowledging our true, inner self.
As
I shared with Buddhists and Shamans, Yoga teachers, Light
Workers and positive thinkers I began to see a definite trend:
by whatever path we, individually, are choosing we're ALL
become more aware. As we seek and find our inner wisdom, be
it through NLP work on our EQ or meditation or any one of
a growing number of personal growth paths, so we're becoming
more enlightened. We're rising above our purely rational intelligence
(IQ) and finding a greater depth to ourselves and to life.
EQ is indeed helping the world become a better place!
Keith
Beasley is now based in the Algarve (Portugal) where he offers
a range of workshops and consultations to help bring out our
inherent creative, psychic and spiritual natures. Using Reiki
healing, art, divinations and creative visualisations he provide
an excellent complement to techniques such as NLP as a path
towards emotional intelligence . . . and a higher wisdom.
Keith's
Workshops
Also
available on-line: 
Recent
articles by Keith on Emotional Intelligence
Measuring
EQ - Why it's emotionally UN-intelligent
Improving
awareness of our Emotional Intelligence
Not so much a self-assessment of EI, but self-help on the
EI journey
The
Artistry of Emotional Intelligence
The
Heart & Soul of EI - A spiritual perspective
What
makes an Emotionally Intelligent Leader
(part
of a forum within the EQ Alliance)
Other EQ Sites
EQ
Alliance
EQ
Informational Site on
Emotions, Emotional Intelligence, Teen Suicide & Related
Things
Emotional
Intelligence Information
John Mayer's site
Wikipedia
entry for 'Emotional_intelligence'
THE web encyclopaedia |