What is emotional capacity? Does having a high emotional capacity really carry any weight in your professional life?

Are you lacking motivation or finding yourself quicker to become irritated? Or perhaps you have a feeling of hopelessness? Everyone reacts to stress, conflict, and failures in different ways. No matter what, we all have some reaction to stresses that can negatively affect us. Without a strong emotional capacity, we have the potential to crumble under the pressure of the stresses that are put upon us.

A common phrase thrown out regularly today is the feeling of getting “burned out.” I’m sure you’ve felt this way at some point. Understanding the strategies to overcome these feelings are obviously important, but before we get there let’s take a closer look at this term “emotional capacity.”

What does emotional capacity really mean?

Emotional capacity may be a familiar term for some and for others you might at least be able to piece together what it might mean. But what does it really mean? Emotional capacity is your ability to establish and build relationships, overcome beliefs that limit your potential, and adapt to a changing environment. A useful analogy is to compare emotional capacity to a bucket that is being filled with water that represents the stresses of your life. The amount of water that you can put in the bucket (or the number of trials you can successfully overcome) will correlate directly with the size of your bucket (or the level of your emotional capacity).

Now, how can I actually apply it in my profession?

We know what emotional capacity is now, but does it really matter to you? Yes! It most definitely does. Emotional capacity can be what separates you from others in the workplace. An employee with a low emotional capacity will be constrained in what they can achieve when compared to those who are better at overcoming obstacles and continuing as normal. Having a high capacity will lead to consistent results, higher satisfaction and happiness in your job, and stronger relationships in your professional and personal life.

To build your capacity, surround yourself with people you want to be like. Also look at areas where you want to improve and take steps to improve them. Examine your response to stresses to get a better understanding of what your triggers and responses are. There are a number of different things that you can do to build your capacity. Remember to only use the strategies that work for you! Here you can find some additional tips on how to build emotional capacity. With these tips in mind, you can elevate yourself from the level you are at now to something that will make you feel significantly happier and more fulfilled.

Now you might say “I don’t have the emotional capacity to do this” or “How am I supposed to deal with these stresses?"

3 Strategies to Try to Avoid Burnout and Stresses

• Learn to Say No: We all love to please people. Sometimes we please people at the expense of our own pleasure. Knowing your limits and when you should say no can be tricky, but it can also be tremendously empowering.

• Take Time for Yourself: Find ways to de-stress and do things that you enjoy. This could be going for a walk, exercising, talking to a friend, or reading a book. No matter what it is, find something that provides relief from your stresses.

• Maintain Good, Self-Care Habits: Taking time to take care of yourself is crucial to feeling good and not getting worn out. Get enough sleep, maintain good personal hygiene practices, and eat healthy foods.

If you don’t believe that these strategies will work for you, test them out! If you think they will work for you, test them out! No matter what you have done before, it doesn’t mean that trying again will match those results.

In the end, building your emotional capacity and learning how to deal with and avoid stress will be of great value to you in every aspect of your life. Begin to take care of yourself if you aren’t now and you will be amazed by the results!