Building Emotional Intelligence Through Play

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is our ability to identify and communicate our emotions to ourselves and to those that we are in relationship with. Our emotions are like indicators on our car's dashboard. Powerful emotions can indicate a larger issue "under the hood" of our hearts.

How can we increase our emotional intelligence?

Sharing your story within your personal relationships can open a door and allow others around you to feel comfortable with sharing their own emotions. Maya Angelou puts it this way, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." Your story is powerful and may be the key to unlocking the door for someone else who feels trapped in their own story.

Asking intentional questions to yourself and to those around you can help identify the underlying issues in a situation. Before coming to a solution, ask deeper questions to uncover the real emotions that may have motivated an action. You can do this in conversations or through journaling by yourself.

Play is another avenue that can be used to connect thoughts, feelings, and actions. Using books and other media to jumpstart a discussion about the stories and characters, especially with kids, can be a helpful tool in developing emotional intelligence. You can also use games such as Ferret Flush by Brittany Gonzalez and Anthony Gonzalez, which is a great game for young adults and teens.

Our minds can be a battlefield for the enemy to gain ground in our lives. Paul clearly commanded the early church to "take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Cor 10:5b). Putting words to our emotions and feelings not only benefits ourselves but those around us as we learn to communicate with intentionality and listen to understand.

Take a moment and consider what indicators are flashing red on the dashboard of your heart.

Answer these three questions: