Intrapersonal skills are a part of daily life. However, this could be the first time you have heard of them. So, what are intrapersonal skills and how do they differ from interpersonal skills?
While these skills are related and are complementary to one another, there are many differences between them. Read on to discover what intrapersonal skills are, why they are important, and how you can strengthen them.
What Are Intrapersonal Skills?
You use intrapersonal skills regularly, even if you may not think of them frequently. Intrapersonal communication means “within the self.” These skills are internal behaviors that help you manage emotions, cope with challenges that come your way, and even help you learn new information.
Some intrapersonal skills include self-confidence, self-discipline, persistence, being open to new ideas, time management, and the ability to overcome distractions. Most of these skills are related to your ability to self-regulate.
If you have a high level of self-control, it will be easier for you to manage your time and emotions. These types of people will also have a better time overcoming challenges. Additionally, strong intrapersonal intelligence can help you focus, set goals, and solve problems. These skills may not come naturally to everyone, and that is okay. However, you must work on improving these skills.
Interpersonal vs Intrapersonal Skills
Both of these concepts deal with emotional intelligence. However, interpersonal communication takes place between yourself and other people. According to professional growth app Matter, having strong intrapersonal communication skills can have a positive effect on your interpersonal communication. Examples of interpersonal communication skills include active listening, teamwork, and motivation.
How to Build Your Intrapersonal Skills
Building your intrapersonal skills can help prevent stress and burnout in your work, and can improve your mental health, ultimately leading you to a more meaningful life. Avoid going into autopilot mode by regularly taking the time to build your intrapersonal communication skills with these methods and tips.
Schedule Your Time
Creating and keeping a schedule, especially when you have a lot to do, will help you stay focused. On your schedule, you should include work commitments, appointments, social activities, chores, and even activities like exercise or self-care.
This will help you remember everything you need to do, allow you to limit distractions, and will encourage you to schedule enjoyable activities so you have something to look forward to. After using a schedule for a while, you will notice a difference in how you manage your time.
Try to Meditate
Meditating might be difficult at first, but it is a great activity to increase emotional awareness. Meditating can help you learn how to recognize your feelings and let bad feelings go instead of spiraling into negative thoughts.
Key benefits of meditating include stress relief, relaxation, and improved sleep. Feeling mentally strong can help boost your internal resolve and make it easier for you to work through difficult situations. Meditation will also help you become more self-aware and more focused on all parts of your life.
If you are struggling with meditation, try downloading a meditation app such as Calm or Headspace to guide you through a practice.
Self-Reflection
Self-reflection means thinking over the actions and choices that you make. This includes reflecting on your values and how your actions affect your loved ones. When you self-reflect, you will see what habits work well for you, especially when it comes to facing challenges. This process will also make it clear the people and things that matter to you.
Journaling
Keeping a journal can take you to a deep emotional level. You will have a written record of your thoughts and feelings to look back on to see how you behaved, and can also allow you to take your own advice when you face similar challenges later in life.
Journaling can help you pinpoint specific struggles you may be experiencing that you were unaware of. This might be low self-confidence or a lack of motivation. But it’s not all negative, writing down your thoughts and experiences can also help reveal your best skills.
Positive Self-Talk
The way you think about yourself and even talk to yourself has a significant impact on your internal experiences. Negative thought patterns will harm you.
Instead of mentally beating yourself up, focus on areas in which you have succeeded. Of course, it is still important to figure out areas that you can improve on.
Just keep in mind, you do not need to think negatively to motivate yourself. Praising your strengths can help you tackle tricky decisions with determination.
Consider Your Goals
Goals help shape your life. They say a lot about you as a person and identify what drives you. It should seem obvious that you should have plans for the distant future as well as the immediate future.
Success with smaller goals will help you create and reach more distant goals. Some small goals you can focus on might be finishing a book every month or reducing the amount of money you spend on coffee every week.
These small goals can unexpectedly lead to larger goals, like becoming a more honest person. When setting goals, think about the person you want to be.
Increase Compassion
You can become more in tune with your emotional self by increasing your compassion for others. An excellent place to start is by always considering the other person’s perspective and life experiences.
Performing a random act of kindness can also help you with positive feelings for both yourself and those around you. Having compassion will make it easier to build other self-awareness skills, including identifying your mistakes, making difficult choices, and believing that others are also trying their best.
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