Having emotional intelligence helps you manage your emotions in healthy ways. But what happens if you lack it? Consider this story of the one onion too far.
Some years ago, I decided to plant a small garden beside my house. My neighbor, a medical doctor, was the aggressive sort, always bragging about the latest tool in his garage or how much bigger his house was than mine. But I never expected his reaction when I planted a row of onions that inadvertently crossed over the invisible boundary between our yards.
How far over did that row go over the line?
By one onion.
When the first green sprout peeked through the dirt, he came knocking at my door. He was agitated. He said the boundary between our domains was fixed, and I needed to respect it. He was going to get the property line surveyed and build a fence. With his finger pointing and nostrils flaring, I though he going to deck me right then. He did not, fortunately, and he went on his way―but not before asking whether I would pay for half of the fence.
I declined.
We never spoke again. He moved away soon after, and no one in the neighborhood missed him. All that was left was the fence he built which to this day does not meet code.
How many times do we overreact to small matters? Are we aware how emotions drive our actions and ruin relationships?
In the coming weeks, we will explore how bolstering your emotional intelligence can enhance your career and enrich your life.
And you’ll never have to lose your cool over an onion again!
