Have you ever thought of how important is the study of emotions?
What are your thoughts on why it has been kept away from education?
Aren’t emotions the very basis of how we relate to the world around us and eventually to ourselves?
There are many pioneers in the field of EQ and all the research about EQ points at how it adds immense value in an individual’s life and their learning journey.
- “Your intelligence quotient (IQ) can get you the job, but your emotional intelligence (EQ) will determine how far you go.” – Daniel Goleman
Daniel Goleman is a psychologist and author who popularized emotional intelligence (EQ), showing its impact on success and leadership.His 1995 book, Emotional Intelligence, highlighted the role of self-awareness, empathy, and social skills in success, challenging the idea that IQ alone determines achievement. - “The ability to monitor one’s own and others’ emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions.” –Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer
Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer, two psychologists, were the first to introduce the concept of emotional intelligence in a scientific context in 1990. They defined it as:
“The ability to perceive emotion, integrate emotion to facilitate thought, understand emotions, and regulate emotions to promote personal growth.”
They proposed a Four-Branch Model of emotional intelligence, which breaks EQ into four core skills:
1. Perceiving Emotions
This is the most basic level—being able to recognize emotions in yourself and others. It includes noticing facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and other non-verbal cues.
In a learning context: Kids who can recognize emotions in their peers and themselves are more socially aware and less likely to misunderstand situations.
2. Using Emotions to Facilitate Thinking
Emotions aren’t just feelings—they also help us focus, prioritize, and solve problems.
In education: A child who knows how to tap into their emotions can use that energy to think more clearly and creatively, especially when dealing with challenges.
3. Understanding Emotions
This involves knowing how emotions evolve and how they connect—for example, understanding how frustration might lead to anger or how sadness might turn into withdrawal.
For children: Learning this helps them make sense of their own emotional responses and those of others, rather than feeling overwhelmed or confused by them.
4. Managing Emotions
This is the most advanced skill—being able to regulate your own emotions and help others do the same. It’s not about ignoring feelings, but understanding them and making intentional choices about how to respond.
EQ in everyday Learning at Aarohi
So, how do we bring emotional intelligence into real-life education?
At Aarohi, it’s not taught as a separate subject. Instead, emotional intelligence is part of everyday life. It’s woven into how children live, learn, and grow each day.
Emotions determine how we experience life’s happenings and how we relate to each other in a social setup. Imagine you’re feeling extremely happy. How would you interact with the person next to you, even if they were a stranger?
Chances are, your mood would influence a warm and open response.
Now imagine you’re in the worst of your moods. How would you relate to anyone standing next to you? I am pretty sure you do understand what I am pointing at ?
With the kind of impact the emotions have on our behaviour, doesn’t it make more sense now for it to be a part of the learning for kids.
At Aarohi, a community based living at the campus. EQ plays an important role at Aarohi. It helps everyone understand and connect with each other. Living together brings many situations. Emotional awareness helps us handle them better.
When kids become mindful of EQ, they start noticing their feelings. They learn how emotions shape their thoughts and actions. This awareness helps them grow and relate better with others.
At Aarohi, we say that Emotions are like sign posts of our internal world. They are there to show us about what might be going on within us.
For example–
- Anger – Feeling angry can be a signal that we feel attacked or threatened. Sometimes, anger shows up when we struggle to learn something new or when we compare ourselves to others and feel we are falling behind. It may also arise from unmet expectations. Recognizing this helps children develop emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
- Anxiety – Anxiety often points to uncertainty. It may mean we don’t know what’s coming next or we doubt our ability—or someone else’s—to handle a task. Teaching kids to notice and name this emotion supports emotional regulation and confidence.
- Pressure – Feeling pressured can mean we’re not ready to face a task or we’re overwhelmed by future expectations. When children learn to notice pressure as a signpost, they can manage their emotions better and approach challenges more calmly.
We invite you, the reader, to reflect on your own emotional experiences. What might those feelings have been trying to show you?
Becoming aware of emotions is powerful. It helps us understand ourselves better, respond wisely to different situations, and take charge of life’s challenges. Now imagine your child growing up with this kind of awareness—how confident and self-aware they would be.
This is what we nurture at Aarohi: children who are emotionally intelligent, self-aware, and ready to face life with clarity and confidence.