What is Emotional Health? An Emotional Health Definition

Emotional Health, Emotional Wellness and Emotional Intelligence Defined by Licensed Psychologist

Emotional Health Definition:

Emotional health is defined by the degree to which you feel emotionally secure and relaxed in everyday life. An emotionally healthy person has a relaxed body, an open mind and an open heart.

The more emotional health you have, the more self-esteem you have. This means you do not frequently react with knee jerk responses, anxiety or panic to the events that occur in your life.

Instead, you are usually calm and patient with yourself and others. You are an emotionally safe person to be around because you feel emotionally secure.

Emotionally safe people do not judge or criticize others. This is because they have learned not to judge and criticize themselves.

Emotionally healthy people feel safe and secure with their own emotions and feelings.  They feel their feelings and emotions instead of avoiding them or trying to control them. 

To be emotionally healthy you must express your emotions in healthy, assertive ways. If you inhibit your emotions and feelings you cannot achieve emotional health. This means an emotionally healthy person is assertive.

Emotional Wellness Definition:

Emotional health is on a continuum and fluctuates moment by moment.  Emotional wellness is at the peak of this continuum.

Emotionally wellness is when you has such a high degree of emotional health that you often radiate joy and feel high on life.

Emotional wellness refers to a state where you have so much healthy, flowing vital energy in your body that you have vibrant moments, peak experiences and peak performances.

Emotional wellness is the state you enjoy as you move closer and closer to being self-actualized.

Emotional Intelligence Definition:

Unfortunately, Emotional Intelligence frequently becomes a catch all for many behaviors and feelings that have nothing to do with emotional health and wellness.

For example, a one day Emotional Intelligence seminar offered by a popular teacher says you will "Learn to keep your emotions in check, and help coworkers do the same." 

This definition of Emotional Intelligence is the opposite of authentic emotional health. Emotionally healthy people would never keep their emotions in check or inhibit someone else's.

Due to the misinformation about Emotional Intelligence online, in seminars and courses be careful. Check out people carefully before studying with them.

Do not confuse emotions with knee jerk reactions!

Knee jerk reactions are NOT emotions.  Knee jerk responses to situations are conditioned responses based on irrational thinking and past negative life experiences.

In contract, emotions are energy in motion that come out of your solar plexus and heart.

Emotional Intelligence is an academic way of defining emotional health. Two male researchers in 1990, Peter Salve and John D. Mayer gave the name Emotional Intelligence to the qualities they noticed in people during an experiment.

They found that some people had healthy relationship skills and they labeled these people as having EI.  Healthy relationship skills are qualities that most people have when they are open, relaxed and receptive.

Therefore, anyone can be emotionally healthy and have a high degree of Emotionally Intelligence when they are open, trusting and relaxed.

When you are anxious, closed and defensive you lose your Emotional Intelligence quickly. Anxiety keeps you from being warm and effective with others.

Therefore, the more you relax and overcome your anxiety, the more effective you will be in relationships at work or home. This means the more you relax and open your heart, the more emotional health and wellness you possess.

Most People are Not Emotionally Healthy.

Most people are not comfortable with their feelings and emotions.  Most people judge, humiliate, make fun of and criticize their emotions and feelings.

Nevertheless, if you want to have better relationships, you need to  become emotionally healthy. This means you open your heart and feel your emotions.

If you want to improve your physical and mental health you need to achieve emotional health. A lack of emotional health is often the cause of physical disease and mental illness.

Source:  http://www.drjeanette.com/emotionalhealth.html