I was blown away recently by something a man, Des Ong, said to me. He said, “I’m sick of people calling ‘emotional intelligence’ a soft skill. No! Emotional intelligence is your superpower!” Boom!

Look, we’re all different. But for me, whilst my IQ is just fine, I’ve always seen my EQ (my emotional intelligence) as being less than fine.

It turns out that others haven’t judged me quite as harshly as I’ve judged myself. But we all do have character flaws – every one of us. And it’s all too easy to rationalise them, to joke about them, to make excuses for them.

I’m being completely open with you here. I would always play down my emotional intelligence for that very reason, whilst at the same time trying with all my heart to live out my life in a way that God’s Word told me to live it. How about you? Consider this:

Colossians 3:12,13 God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you.

It’s time to stop making excuses for our flaws – we are, after all, chosen and loved by God, His holy people. And when you read that passage of Scripture, what’s it in fact talking about? Emotional intelligence. Showing mercy. Being kind, humble, gentle, patient. Not angry but forgiving.

How do you grow your emotional intelligence? Start there. Right there in God’s Word. And for Pete’s sake, stop making excuses.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.