This article explores the importance of emotional intelligence in navigating the uncertainty and polarization that often accompany significant societal transitions. It offers practical strategies for developing self-awareness, managing emotions, and engaging in constructive dialogue, particularly in the context of heated political climates.
Skills of emotional intelligence offer a guide for managing uncertainty amid polarization. Self-awareness, curiosity, accountability, and compassion are crucial for individual and collective well-being. In the immediate wake of November’s election, no topic invited greater speculation or judgment than how someone cast their ballot.
Whispers, phone calls, and texts spread with the reminder that political choices are no longer private but a kind of public litmus test—a measure for who to blacklist from your inner circle. Political discourse, are inherently contentious, this post-election environment scaled to new heights and cultivated a liminal space—from election to inauguration—like no other. Liminal space can be thought of as time between “here” and “there,” like sitting in a waiting room before surgery or navigating the weeks leading up to graduation before stepping into 'real life.' It is a state of transition, an in-between where outcomes remain unknown and uncertainty thrives. From election to inauguration, this is where our country sat: unsettled and unsure how the next four years will unfold. People grappled with a cocktail of emotions: apprehension of what might go wrong, and eagerness for possibilities ahead—all happening at once.'Big' emotions also sometimes pushed people toward extremes. In everyday conversations, these emotions were often taken out on others as individuals attempted to regain a sense of control by clinging to simplistic and polarizing narratives. Though there is no definitive roadmap for navigating our way out of this liminal space, there are strategies based on the skills of emotional intelligence that can help. In a quote often attributed to psychologist Viktor Frankl, we learn that “Between stimulus and response there is space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.' Indeed, this space is also where you can find techniques of emotional intelligence hard at work—or not. The choice is ours. For the sake of our individual well-being (if not sanity), relationships, and collective country, here are tips for cultivating emotional intelligence in the space between stimulus and response—in liminal space and beyond:Identify how your emotions bleed into your political beliefs and reactions—because they do. Emotions constantly inform our decisions, but they don’t have to run the show. Take a moment to reflect on how your feelings color your view of others, and how others’ feelings might color their own in return. Consider your motivations when “calling out.” Instead, aim to call in—an invitation to meaningful dialogue and connection over outright disagreement.Get curious, rather than judgmental, about others’ perspectives. Right now, assumptions abound and questions are few. Instead of speculating others' beliefs or ballots, engage in conversations with genuine curiosity. Whether in-person or (especially) online, ask thoughtful questions about policy stances and perspectives to gain deeper insight. This approach doesn’t just model emotional intelligence—it builds respect and connection among a society craving it (and not another online debate). Examine your own information consumption habits—for how you react in moments of uncertainty, how you respond to new information, and where you take in content. Set limits on time spent in the echo chambers of social media and news sources that reinforce existing biases. Seek out diverse perspectives and engage with them thoughtfully. Remember, life experiences influence political behavior. Instead of using this understanding to fuel animosity, allow it to foster informed dialogue. In an environment of curiosity and compassion, we give ourselves and others the gift of grace without judgment.
Social Issues Politics Emotional Intelligence Polarization Liminal Space Uncertainty Political Discourse Communication Empathy Self-Awareness
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