Have you ever been labelled as needy, high maintenance, overly sensitive, demanding, or even selfish? Your mind is filled with thoughts that determine your mood and overall attitude. As PhD holders Dennis Greenberger and Christine A Padesky discuss in their book Mind Over Mood, there are times when our brain produces “automatic thoughts” over which we have no control and which influence our behaviour.
Thus, as a result of certain thoughts which run parallel to specific kinds of moods, one is unable to healthily manage overwhelming feelings, leading to low emotionally intelligent behaviour.
These behaviours stem from “attachments that impact the ability to handle your emotional states,” as stated by Lisa Ferentz, writer of the book Letting Go of Self-Destructive Behaviors. And if gone unchecked, you may “lose the ability to show emotions and effectively communicate your needs to others, depriving you of emotional quotient (EQ),” writes Ferentz.
Considering how humans are immersed most of the time in their minds, studies have extensively aimed at researching what makes it a healthy place to be in. And time after time. it has been scientifically proven that befriending books plays an essential role in making one socially intelligent by elevating the mind.
To help you boost your emotional intelligence, these are the five books you should indulge yourself in. Take a look:
The Book of Moods, Lauren Martin
Backed with research, stories, and self-realisation, this book helps you comprehend your emotions and stops them from developing into life hindrances.
A Gentle Reminder, Bianca Sparacino
When you need words to hug your broken pieces and stitch them back together, this book is for you. This book is a journey towards healing, with gentle reminders to keep going despite challenges and to embrace the past and all that is to come.
When You’re Ready, This Is How You Heal, Brianna West
A single traumatic event can devastate our lives. This book is about allowing disruption to transform us into woke personas and emotionally intelligent humans.
The Mountain Is You, Brianna West
This is a book about resisting change and self-sabotaging behaviours. But, by gaining critical insight from our most damaging habits and developing emotional intelligence through a better understanding of our brains and bodies, we can get out of our own way and into our most promising future selves.
The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz
Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, this book breaks self-limiting beliefs and offers a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives into a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.
