Tips to Enhance Your EQ

1.      With Your Children

(a)     Encourage your children to express their feelings, whether good or bad.

(b)     Establish clear limits on their behaviour.

(c)     Use praise to promote good behaviour.

(d)     Respect your child’s choices, unless they endanger safety or health.

(e)     Honour small requests even if you’d prefer not to; this will help your child make decisions on his own.

(f)      Don’t behave in ways you wouldn’t want your child to imitate.

(g)     Criticize incorrect behaviour or action, not the child.

(h)     Pay attention when your children talk to you.  Listening to your children tells them that you think they’re important and that you’re interested in what they have to say.

(j)      Set clear and consistent rules.  Parents should agree on rules.

(k)     Encourage your child to always do their best, and emphasize that what counts is effort, not only success.

(l)      Set goals those are within the reach of your child.

2.      With Your Spouse

(a)     Let there be spaces in your togetherness.

(b)     When you are angry, criticize the behaviour, not the person.

(c)     Talk about your problems.

(d)     Think of the two of you as a team.

(e)     Spend time with each other.

(f)      Be open with each other.

(g)     Have realistic expectations from each other.

(h)     Never take each other for granted.

(j)                Keep each other’s good points in mind.

3.      With Your Old Parents

(a)     Stand by your parents in periods of transition such as retirement, death, illness and so forth.

(b)     Even though you are your parents’ caretakers, don’t feel hesitant to express your need for their approval and love.

(c)     Understand that your parents can’t give you as much as they could when you were young.  It’s your turn to give now.

(d)     Be honest with each other.

(e)     Share your feelings with your parents.

(f)      Show sensitivity and understanding towards your parents and their needs.

(g)     Show your gratitude for all that they have done for you.

(j)      Make them feel that they are special and they matter to you.

(k)     Forgive your parents for their shortcomings.

(l)      If your parents are living with you spend some time with them everyday.