One of the best traits anyone can have?…drumroll…

This is emotional intelligence because it is needed across the board. A lot of problems stem from lack of emotional intelligence. Problems stem from lack of integrity in general. But some people do not have emotional intelligence to help them cope with and manage issues in life.

According to Merriam Webster dictionary, this is emotional intelligence:

” the ability to recognize, understand, and deal skillfully with one’s own emotions and the emotions of others (as by regulating one’s emotions or by showing empathy and good judgment in social interactions).”

Emotional intelligence is something that’s important for us to have as individuals. It is necessary for both men and women. Some people who believe in rigid gender roles may believe that only women need emotional intelligence, because men are supposedly to be hard, stoic.

Men can remain strong, courageous and also be gentle, have empathy, emotional intelligence. The traits are not mutually exclusive, but will be present, expressed at the appropriate times ideally.

It makes sense to expect others to have emotional intelligence. Especially, those that we choose to bring into our lives- in particular, the people we choose to marry. Emotional intelligence is important to also cultivate in ourselves.

This is an important topic, because due to socialization and wrong conditioning, some men are taught certain positive traits are weaknesses and to bottle up their emotions. They are taught not to express certain emotions for the most part, so as not to appear “soft.”

Sometimes, sympathy and empathy can be seen as being too soft. Some people attribute the traits of sympathy and empathy mainly to women and girls. Yet, everybody needs to be capable of being sympathetic and having empathy toward others.

Kindness and compassion are not weaknesses. Naturally, sympathy and empathy need to be balanced with wisdom. Leaders definitely need to have emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence is important in every aspect of life in our relationships with each other as individuals- whether it be family connections, friendships, or at our places of employment, romantic relationships or marriages.

Related Bible Verses.

God wants all of us, regardless of gender to be kind to one another. Kindness is not weakness.

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 NKJV

The stronger man is not the easily angered or overly aggressive man, but the one who practices self-control and is slow to anger.

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”  Proverbs 16: 32 NKJV