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Me first and the world second

Clive Ngwenya Avatar
Verified by Emotional Intelligence Developer Community-written · Human experiences · Lived insight

Understanding Emotional Intelligence in Real Life

This post explores an emotional intelligence concept and how it shows up in real life. In work, relationships, social situations, wellbeing, and personal growth. Emotional intelligence helps people understand what they feel, manage reactions, build healthier connections, and move through life with more awareness and balance.

There’s nobody like you, and that’s why it’s so amazing

brown wooden cubes, Me first and the world second
Photo by Shamia Casiano on Pexels.com

Once you realise that you’re one — and not one in a million — you’re unique and your life has purpose. You’ll appreciate yourself more. Unlike diamonds which are not unique, dig a hole somewhere and you’ll find them. Remember, they cannot dig you up. If you relocate there will not be another you to take your place when you leave.

Make your mark. Live your life. Be free from anxiety. Be free from self-doubt. Love yourself. Do what you love and never give up. It’s not arrogance to put yourself first. It’s self-love. Self-care. It’s making sure you’re happy in your life. Full of control over your emotional well-being so you can engage the world and not be affected by it.

The world is a challenging terrain to live in. There’s a lot happening and if you’re not grounded you can find yourself affected by things which do not concern you. Me first means looking after your heart. You develop emotional intelligence to understand the world around you.

Me first and the world second

You don’t get sucked into things you should’ve avoided. You learn to say no. You learn to go the other way without feeling pressured to do things which will harm your life. Me first is good. Take care of yourself and you will influence your surroundings in a positive way. Me first is a sign of wellness. For example, keep your car in good condition and you will not get stuck on the highway. But neglect servicing your car and you will pay more when you have to call for help in the future.

It’s the same with your well-being. There are two types of responses in any situation. Either you handle it well or you don’t. Me first means you develop your emotional control. You develop empathy. How? Through learning. It’s that simple. You have a lot of resources you can use. Reading, or going to places which teach you how to develop your emotional intelligence, community outreach programs. When you look for help you find it.

Do you have any troubles in your life?

I can name a few… but I have learned that no matter what I go through. Either I handle them well or I don’t, either I stay calm or I freak out at my troubles. Either, I ask for help or I keep quiet and self-destruct. There’s always two ways you can deal with any situation. Me first means you learn to choose the correct way. When you’re calm, you think clearly, you don’t rush your decisions, and you plan.

Conclusion

It may seem insensitive or selfish to say, Me First! But it’s not. The world wants you to care for it’s needs before you care for yourself — we live in a fast paced society and if you don’t mind yourself you’ll self-destruct. Have your man cave. Pamper yourself. Give yourself time to cool off by doing what you like. It doesn’t have to cost you money… you can do something for free. Community centres offer many things for free, but are priceless due to the value they give to people who need them

Author

  • Clive Ngwenya

    Clive Ngwenya is a visionary advocate for holistic well-being, dedicated to empowering individuals to enhance their physical, mental, and emotional health. As the founder of this transformative website, Clive’s mission is to provide accessible resources and support for people on their journey towards improved well-being.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise, understand, and manage emotions in yourself and others. It helps people communicate better, make thoughtful decisions, and build healthier relationships.

Why is emotional intelligence important for wellbeing?

Emotional intelligence helps people handle stress, manage conflict, and respond thoughtfully instead of reacting emotionally. These skills improve resilience and personal wellbeing.

How can I improve emotional intelligence?

You can improve emotional intelligence through self-reflection, learning from emotional experiences, practicing empathy, and developing awareness of how emotions influence behaviour.

Where can I find emotional wellbeing tools?

You can explore exercises, quizzes, and reflection tools on our wellbeing tools page. You can also learn more about emotional intelligence concepts in our Emotional Intelligence Learning Hub.

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