Search Results: talk about your past

While book-smarts or street-smarts help a person in specific ways, Emotional Intelligence is what we use most in the real world -- it's the mindfulness, awareness and processing ability we have for both our feelings and the feelings of others.

Current research indicates that those with higher levels of EI draw others towards them... They're people who others genuinely want to be around for the long haul -- at work/school/relationships. Their kindness and compassion towards others shine through their EI, as does their ability to own up to their own decisions (instead of blaming them on others) and to treat others with respect and dignity.

Here 's a quick 20-point quiz for you guys and gals -- the most common signs of EI

(+1 for each point you "sort of understand" and +2 for each point you're really good at):

• Being able to know and accept yourself for who you are (with all your quirks and experiences)...
• Being able to accept responsibility for your actions and decisions...
• Being able to accept change as a standard part of life...
• Being able to control emotions rather than raging and lashing out and flying off the handle with verbal/physical outbursts...
• Being able to forgive yourself -- to show yourself some grace -- by leaving past mistakes in the past...
• Being able to talk through problems and challenges with others...
• Being aware of your own strengths -- and being able to admit to them...
• Being aware of your own weaknesses -- and being able to admit to them...
• Being modestly confident and poised -- and keeping your cool in challenging situations...
• Showing empathy and compassion -- putting yourself in another person’s shoes and seeing things from their perspective...

The scoring goes by 5s (see the poll, which keeps answers anonymous). Don't share your score in comments if you don't want to.

(Those with a low score wondering how to raise EI can search Google for free materials that are very helpful.)

My boyfriend and I have always gone to the gym together but within the past year, his “boys” have been tagging along as well. I didn’t mind it at first but now it’s getting exhausting… they talk so loud (even with noise cancelling headphones on I can still hear them), take up the entire gym, always taking pictures, take 10-15 mins breaks between sets, etc.

I mean I love them, they’re all super chill, but seeing them 4-5x a week at the gym where it used to be my place for “escape” is starting to burn me out. I’ve asked my boyfriend if we can just work out where it’s just the two of us but he said it’s a public gym and he can’t control when they’re gonna come (but then he always tells them the time and day of when he’s gonna be at the gym… he even invited more of his friends to work out together at the same gym, at the same time… it’s now a group of 6-7 boys + my boyfriend). I would love to hang out with them outside of the gym, but the gym should be a place to work out not to hang out right?

I offered to go to the gym separately so I can enjoy some quiet gym time but my boyfriend insisted that we go together. I’ve had stalkers at the gym in the past and my bf’s now a bit paranoid which is why we always go together. But it’s driving me nuts… I just want some peace and quiet… I feel bad for feeling this way, but I can’t stand it anymore :(

P. S. I’m also an introvert so hanging out with loud extroverted people 4-5x a week drains me lol