The Science of Happiness Part 7: How to Nurture Good Relationships

Do you want to know the secret to happiness and success? It may surprise you to know that emotional intelligence (EI) is key! "Emotional intelligence is the ability to monitor one's own and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior."In the Science of Happiness and in Volume Two, we're focusing on what we can do to improve our happiness as we relate to other human beings in community. For over eight decades, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has been tracking the same individuals and their families, asking thousands of questions and taking hundreds of measurements from brain scans to blood work, with the goal of discovering what really makes for a good life. Through all the years of studying these people, strong relationships have the biggest impact on physical health, mental health and longevity. In part seven, our big reveal is happy people nurture good relationships. Dr. Waldinger, who now runs the study, says that emotional intelligence and relationship acumen are bigger predictors of success than IQ. In this episode, you will learn the following:1. What is emotional intelligence and how can it be learned?2. How does emotional intelligence impact our ability to succeed in different areas of life?3. What are some practical tips for improving emotional intelligence?In this volume, Dr. Waldinger explains that emotional intelligence and relationship acumen are bigger predictors of success than IQ. Emotional intelligence helps us build stronger relationships, succeed at school or in the workplace, reduce stress, defuse conflicts and enhance satisfaction. Proficient social skills allow us to build meaningful relationships with others and develop a deeper understanding of ourselves. Some essential social skills are active listening, verbal and nonverbal communication, leadership and persuasiveness. Here are some tips on improving your social skills: ask open ended questions, use icebreakers, maintain good eye contact, express interest in others and ask them personal questions.Resources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5981239/Did you get your Free Copy of Dawn's book yet?Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midlifeinparadise/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawndfleming/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnfleming/Website: https://www.lifeinparadisepodcast.comSupport the show