We are emotional creatures who often make decisions and respond to stimuli based on our emotions. As a result, our ability to grow in EQ (emotional quotient) has an enormous impact on all of our relationships, how we make decisions, and identify opportunities.

Luckily, emotional intelligence is one part of the human psyche that we can develop and improve by learning and practicing new skills.

Check out the four skills you can cultivate to make you a more emotionally intelligent person.

1- Try to control your thoughts

You don’t have much control over the emotions you experience in a given moment, but you can control your reaction to those emotions by focusing on your thoughts. As it’s been said: You can’t prevent a bird from landing on your head, but you can keep it from building a nest.

2 – Benefit from criticism

Nobody enjoys negative feedback. But you know that criticism is a chance to learn, even if it’s not delivered in the best way. And even when it’s unfounded, it gives you a window into how others think.

When you receive negative feedback, you keep your emotions in check and ask yourself: How can this make me better?

3 – Demonstrate empathy instead of judging or labeling others

Empathy doesn’t necessarily mean agreeing with another person’s point of view. Rather, it’s about trying to understand–which allows you to build deeper, more connected relationships.

4 – Formulate critics as constructive feedback 

Negative feedback has great potential to hurt the feelings of others. Realizing this, give useful feedback, so the recipient sees it as helpful instead of harmful.

Understanding and managing our emotions (and the emotions of others) helps us to be more successful in both our personal and professional lives.