The ability to self-regulate by controlling your feelings, having empathy and high levels of motivation is a huge strength when working and living with others.

It helps you keep going when things get difficult, support colleagues and loved ones, and not pass on negative feelings to others.

The flip of this can mean you need a significant portion of time to redirect negative emotions in a constructive way e.g. exercise or writing. It can also lead to wanting time on your own to recharge – this is also being an introvert.

I consider myself to have a ‘people battery’ which mostly gets used at work and with loved ones. Unfortunately because of how my life is at the moment, this leaves almost no capacity for friends. It’s definitely not because I don’t like, or need friends, it’s just my battery is usually pretty flat by the time I reach social time. So I use whatever time is left to get back to a level where I can go again. The brutal reality is I’ve had to prioritise my energy (there is also the factor that some of what is the normal social activity to do e.g. late nights out, just isn’t what I enjoy. But that’s another story)

I wonder if there are extroverts (who recharge by being with others) who also have very high EQ?