What Makes Me Tick?
By Alexis Holsapple
My Personality
My personality has always been very introverted. I hardly spoke unless spoken to when I was little- and even then I would most likely just blush and nod. It took a lot of time for me to get comfortable around people, and now that I’m older I find social interactions difficult and exhausting. On occasion I’ll get a burst of adrenaline and speak to someone I don’t know or make conversation with an acquaintance. Even though socialization sometimes terrifies me, I realize it’s inevitable.Though being introverted plays a big part in why I act the way I do, I don’t think it’s the only thing that defines my personality.
According to a Meyers-Briggs personality test I am an INFP. This personality type tends to look for good in everything and search for ways to make things better. They also tend to be creative and more prone to shyness and daydreaming. I find this to be extremely accurate. I always try to keep an open mind. It's one of the most important qualities a person can have. Really, I just want to be a nice person and put others before myself.
My Emotions
My Social/Emotional Intelligence
My emotional intelligence has been determined mostly by nurture. Both of my parents tend to get snappy with others in troublesome situations. When my mother is in a bad mood, you know to stay clear of her because she’ll take it out on everyone else. My dad gets angry easily, but tends to be quieter about it. My grandma, on the other hand, is the mellowest person I have ever met. She would never take her emotions out on someone else and always considers the feelings of others. I've never heard her yell or even have a condescending tone of voice. Though she is clinically depressed, you would never know it because she is always smiling and doesn't like talking or hearing about sad things. This is who I want to be, but sometimes my parent’s influence leaks though and I snap. This is usually only when I’m extremely angry. Other times I try to keep my emotions inside of me, unless they are happy feelings. Everyone is in a different situation with their life, and you should not want your lack of control to affect them.
Importance of Emotional Intelligence
After learning about social and emotional intelligence, I now realize how important it is to have. It’s not just about being about to read a person’s face to know what they’re feeling. You have to use the knowledge you have to understand why they might be feeling that way and accommodate your actions and words to not have a negative impact on them. Knowing what you feel and why you feel that way is also key to controlling yourself.
Being aware of social and emotional intelligence could also be vital to our future. As Mr. McKendrick talked about in the Skype session, employers look for emotional intelligence in the workplace. In job interviews you must look interested and enthusiastic, even if you really don’t want to be there. You mustn't ever talk negatively of someone else because it shows that you didn't bother putting yourself in their shoes. It could mean the difference between getting a job or not- and with the economy, you really can’t afford to lose an opportunity because you don’t know how to control your emotions.