Looking To Improve: Gaining Emotional Intelligence

By Cyndi

The other evening Robert and I went to a running clinic. It was a basic fundamental class to improve your running technique. To teach this, the instructors had the whole class go outside and be video taped individually as we ran. It was interesting to note the differences in running styles. Each person ran, and each person was unique, but not everyone ran in top form. There was a lack of training and that’s what we came for, to learn.

After the taping we went back inside where they gave us some hands-on instruction. We spread out in the store and practiced as they taught us how to have good posture, how to swing our arms correctly, how to keep a good cadence, etc. Then we watched the videos of ourselves and could see firsthand the things we individually needed to work on. We learned ways to make our running better.

Now here’s the spiritual correlation (you knew this was coming). The apostle Paul uses running a race as an example of our Christian walk. In 1 Cor. 9:24 he states, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” And in Hebrews 12:1, “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

We each have our own “running style” in life, and just like in running, there are ways to improve and get better. There are things that can help our marriages, help us make peace with our past, help us love our jobs and our children better. Even help us model emotional health for the world around us.

There may not be “running clinics” for the spiritual life, but there are ways to improve. We can increase in our emotional intelligence. Even as those of us at this running clinic were looking for help, don’t be afraid to ask for help in your life. Learning is a process and God has us all in different stages in our own individual lives. If there’s anything we can do to help you “run” better, please contact us.