If We Want a Better Society, We Have To Be Better People

The Impact of Our Actions in a Class about Emotional Intelligence

Article By Isamar Marte

Emotional intelligence is the ability to manage our emotions, recognizing them, and acting more favorably and rationally. The pattern is simple: we face the situation, we stop to analyze it, we think about the best way to react (especially in moments when we are prone to anger), and then we act. It seems simple, but sometimes it is challenging to let impulsiveness rest and not take control of us.

Last year, in my Educational Guidance class, my teacher brought up a new topic that changed would change my perspective of the world: emotional intelligence. Little did I know that I would see life differently after that simple lesson.

What captured my attention? I was shocked when I realized the power that our actions have on the lives of others and our surroundings. Blinded by routine, stress is part of our daily lives. We tend to take the actions of others as an excuse to get upset easily and discharge our lack of emotional control on other people.

But why does this matter in society if, to a certain extent, everyone can do what they want? It matters because what we do not only affects us, but others as well. Humans are social beings that live in community. We all find ourselves in need of having to interact with other people, be it in our own home, school, work, neighborhood, or even through buying a product in a store!

Due to this sense of continually relating to our environment, learning to control how we react to circumstances is of great importance. The meaning of this goes beyond being kind and tolerant; it reaches the point of creating harmony among everyone, one of the essential parts to have peace. However, developing emotional intelligence not only benefits those around us but ourselves in a fascinating way. Imagine a life with stable mental health, good interpersonal relationships, and better control of yourself. Sounds almost perfect, right? And it is. I have realized that many times we cannot control how other people act, but we can control how we react. We all must learn to develop the ability to recognize our mistakes and faults.

For me, the beauty of life is in the small things, in everyday moments, and what makes a person happy is the way they live each day. We all, in one way or another, go in search of happiness, in search of a way of life in which we are satisfied with ourselves. For many, this is made difficult by long to-do lists and worldly thoughts. We forget to take a look inside ourselves and recognize our flaws and, above all, how we can improve individuals.

The world is full of problems; from us, as people, to a global scale, there are issues, often with minimal solutions. It is easier to blame others, and it is what most people do when they watch the news and know that "society is worse." But, are we not part of society too? What are we doing to change the narrative and make the world a better place? And once again, we cannot control the actions of others, but we can control our own.

The way in which we relate with others, our impact on the environment, how we act in the face of different changes in our environment… everything is on our hands. Even though we have an active life, where there is always something to do, we must stop to think about the bigger picture. On many occasions, the lack of emotional control and management of just one person has led to the death and harm of a multitude. This should be enough example to realize the power of our actions. Frailty and lack of self-control can lead to major catastrophes, so it is essential to learn to manage these aspects of ourselves, which is undoubtedly hard work. The world seems to be against us many times, but that does not mean that we should be against the world.

Learning to resolve emotional crises before they can become a harm to others is like cutting a damaged leaf from a small plant so that others do not lose their lives as well. In society, we are all one, and we need everyone to create a better world of which we can be proud. It is time to stop pointing out what the other person is doing and start thinking about what I am doing. There is no way to change what is wrong if we only blame other people. Start making an impact: educate yourself and those around you about social problems (including environmental), be kind and tolerant to those around you, and be the best version of yourself you can.

After that class, I thought beyond the definitions and theory of emotional intelligence. I realized a valuable lesson: change begins with us, so if we want a better society, we have to be better people.