Do emotions serve a purpose in our quest for success? Lets take a look from a tactical & introverted perspective.

Prologue

Today I was discussing some things with my counselor, who's an absolute doll, and we ended on the topic of emotion. I'm not very in touch with mine, as I'm somewhat of an introvert, and the only time you'll see me expressing these emotions is when I'm intoxicated; a dangerous concoction.

As I sat there playing devil's advocate to my own problems, I soon realized that I was in fact out of touch with what I felt and how I express it. Personally, I was raised rough & tough, almost like Ricky Bobby(Will Ferrell) from Talladega Nights, "if you're not first, you're last", except in my reality there was a lot more violent discipline being dealt out. It's because of this volatile upbringing that I've become most in touch with negative emotions. Being raised by wolves, fear & anger become second nature.

Enough about me though, this article is intended to help others like me who dislike the feeling of feeling.

What are Emotions

Emotions are strong feelings derived from different circumstances, moods, or relationships with others. They are conscious experiences subjective to ones own present situation. It's impossible to feel what another person is feeling because of this subjectivity, however as human beings we can be empathetic toward others and share their feelings with them.

Emotions can be broken down into subsections or defined basically. According to Paul Ekman they can be classified into 6 basic categories: anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness and surprise.

The study of these basic emotions and their counterparts dates back to ancient Greek philosophy, perhaps even further. Aristotle, being the philosopher that he was, not only defined emotions but also suggested that they were essential components of virtue, necessary for being morally good.

Emotions & Success

Emotions are essential when it comes to success. Logically speaking, we need emotions in order to develop professional relationships with peers. This type of emotional thinking is considered Emotional Intelligence.

Emotional intelligence is a key to success because without it we're unable to manage emotionally escalated situations. For example, if a peer in the work place has suddenly become less productive it may be due to an emotional issue, by identifying this issue and being somewhat empathetic to their current situation we are able to identify the issue and adapt accordingly. The same goes for ourselves, by being able to identify our own emotions as they occur we can adapt accordingly in order to manage ourselves better.

Studies show that emotional intelligence leads to better leadership skills, work performance, and mental health. Those who're in touch with their emotions have less of a chance to become mentally ill. It's a common factor with clinically depressed peoples, that those who shroud their emotions are more likely to express them all at once in a series of outbursts that not only destroy their own lives, but also the relationships they have with those around them. By not dealing with our emotions we become more recluse, introverted, and eventually socially deprived.

It is in our nature to interact with others. When we suppress our emotions it affects the way that we develop relationships with others. Those who're not empathetic toward others usually come across as narcissistic, as they lack the empathy it takes to walk in another persons shoes. People that act this way often make assertions and assume that they're always right as they don't care for the opinions of others.

In order to become successful we need people around us. People have skills that are necessary resources when trying to achieve your goals. There is a saying that lone wolves never make it, which is a quotation for those that are reclusive. We need people in our lives for many reasons, even if we may not think so. We learn from each other and it's important to remember that. It's okay to do your own thing and stray from the pack, but eventually you may find yourself needing the help of others, and there's no shame in that.

Admit that you have feelings and that others do too and you too can create professional relationships that benefit your quest for success.

Conclusion

We need emotions, or better yet emotional intelligence, in order to succeed. It's a necessary component when building functional business partnerships.

It's always been hard for myself to accept the view points of others, because I sometimes feel people are idiots. This is a very judgmental perspective that I must overcome. Having such a dismissive attitude toward people is negative and unhealthy for the soul. Negativity eventually makes a person rotten, and no one likes the smell of rot.

Loneliness is also negative. It's okay to shut ourselves out from time to time in order to become more in touch with ourselves, though there's a fine line between learning ones self and becoming self absorbed. When we become self absorbed we become dismissive to anything and everything that does not agree with our stances in life; we become ignorant. Be self confident, but don't be a dick.

It's okay to feel things. It's a test in life, as with all things, as to how we deal with our feelings. Manage your feelings consciously and very soon you will start to see the world not only logically but spiritually too.

Connect with your emotions so that you can feel content and at peace.

Thomas Te Aroha Kohi | Entrepreneur
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