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Emotional Intelligence has diverse definitions depending on the field of study you are defining it from. Emotional Intelligence has been used in psychology, medicine, consumer behaviors, safety and security, education, etc. to improve the well-being of individuals.

Emotional intelligence from a safety and security angle, is "using your intelligence to control and manage your emotions in the process helping you to think critically, strategically and logically in the event of dangers."

Again, Emotional Intelligence gives an individual the peace of mind and calmness which is valuable in a life-and-death situation. Example of cases where Emotional Intelligence can come in handy are in the areas of kidnapping incidents, ritual killings, armed robberies, hostage taking, rape cases, domestic violence, etc.

Still, techniques like yoga, deep breathing, patience, self-control, etc. are other ways to evade dangers: all these techniques encompass Emotional Intelligence. We live in a society where dangerous people, natural disasters, dangerous technologies, environmental pollution, family responsibilities, etc. are always hitting us hard in our faces. It takes a super human to live in a populated continent like Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. It does not only take away your sanity but leaves you depressed and anxious. This is where Emotional Intelligence comes into the fray.

Our minds are stormy weather that require us to navigate it towards calmer water. Unfortunately, the more we force it towards calmer water, the more difficulty it becomes: it is a daily struggle. Emotional Intelligence is the answer if we are to keep our minds sane and healthy. The mind is the engine room of our emotions therefore the need to continually align it with our body and soul. If anything distorts these engine rooms, it distorts our entire self-worth and being. The consequences of distorted minds are uncontrolled outburst, chronic depression, high level stress, emotional pains, uncontrolled fear, evil thoughts, etc.

On the other hand, the positives of keeping healthy emotions can give us peace of mind, clearer mindsets, healthy well-being, harmonious inter-personal relationship, etc.

How can emotional intelligence help us to stay out of harm’s way? Emotional intelligence comes from the mind and our minds are housed in our brains. It requires untainted intelligence to keep it in a healthy shape and state.

When you fall into danger, these are steps you should take using Emotional Intelligence. It helps victims to:

1. Stay calm by taking deep breathing

When you stay calm, it ensures you are in control of your emotions. It gives you a deeper and clearer mind. This process can only happen when you take calculated deep breath.

2. Forgo your fears by imagining the opposite (bravery)

The opposite of fear is courage. If you keep imagining the bad things that will happen to you in the event of danger, it kills your initiatives to act proactively. Fear gives hopelessness while courage gives hope. Therefore, think positives.

3. Remain positive; optimistic

When you believe you will escape from danger, it lets you see light at the end of the tunnel. It fuels your optimism as against your pessimism. It gives you that rear hope your so desire at that critical time and moment. Belief is very important in the face of danger because it allows victims in danger to plan without losing that positive fire and energy.

4. Be selfless by thinking about others in our situation

When you put others ahead of you in event of danger, it ensures team play. It encourage others to add their inputs without being judged. Selflessness in the face of danger allows brainstorming. It ensures synergy of purpose. It accelerate success like the ability to escape seemingly impossible dangers like kidnapping, terrorism and hostage taking.

Selflessness persuade instead of discourage. Victims of dangerous incidents act as one which ensures free flow of positive inputs from every victims.

5. Avoid overacting by trying to be the hero or heroine.

This could also be attributed to impatient. It first rule of being a victim is trying to be the hero or heroine. It spells doom for the victim. The criminal elements know this that is why they try to stay alert at all times and try to counter any slight moves from their victims.

Do not over react but try to calculate your moves; know the weak and strong points of your abductors or hostage takers. Patient is key here.

6. Spot loopholes with a calmer and clearer mind.

You can create strategies and brainstorm with others in your situation. When you fall into the hands of criminals, the first thing is to spot his weak and strong points. But to do this, you must be calm; take deep breath. Point number 4 comes to mind as brainstorming with others helps to accelerate that.

7. Create options with a clearer mind; we can create options e.g. Option A, Option B and Option C

Creating options from Option A to Option C and so on can be your number one saving grace. When you create options, it helps you to interchange your emotions to suit your escape goals.Your mind must be in a clearer state to be able to create workable options

8. Suppress your fear

Courage kicks in and energizes us towards our escape if we can suppress our fear. Your fear keeps resurfacing but if you can courageously put it under control, you have defeated your number one enemy.

9. Be in charge advantage-wise.

It allows us to spot the fears in our enemies and use it as our strength e.g. kidnappings, armed robberies, assassins, etc. It even helps to put the emotions of others in the same predicament as ours in check. If others are scared, we help them to remain calm, urging them to remain positive and optimistic.

10. Time your options and strategies

Timing is very important in the event of danger. You must time your options and strategies

11. Task your mental endurance and prowess

Emotional Intelligence helps to test and task our mental endurance and prowess. It is in the face of danger that our mental endurance kicks in and helps us to remain optimistic and hopeful. Therefore, do not give in and do not give up when you find yourself in dangerous situations

12. Test and retest your strategies using concentrating breathing

Concentrated breathing helps while you keep mapping your strategies.

13. Look for allies among your enemies

By filtering the good guys from the bad guys through strategic manipulation, it helps you to find allies among your enemies. These allies can work with you to ensure your escape.

14. Look for weaknesses in your enemies’ strengths

Try to find weaknesses in your enemies strengths

15. Be logical in your decisions

Logical thinking ensures logical decisions.

I hope this article on Emotional Intelligence has really being of help to you?

You can like this article or follow us by visiting our website at www.securitymattersafrica.com or email us on info@securitymattersafrica.com or samuel@securitymattersafrica.com

16. Write your will and post to your timeline......ode.
Better lay low in life and death situations and pray it passes

All these while work if the attacker don't have a deadly motive.

You have to be good in hand combat or have a concealed weapon then look for a loophole before you act if not OYO for you.

@Born2Breed: You are definitely right. But, life is about risk. Again, it is not every abused, raped or kidnapped victims that are armed. Emotional Intelligence is about controlling your emotions. It can be pain, anger or stress; putting it under control can help a lot.

"Keep extra clips for extra shiit"

What if the enemy is also taking calculated breaths ?

too much talk...one gbosa & it's all over.....#period..