“Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you.” – Roger Ebert
Evolution endowed man with a bigger brain and evolved intelligence. This intellect helped him survive tough times as a hunter and gatherer. Giving him the ability to move, socialise, empathise and think, evolution helped man become all that he is today. Since early on, man has consciously strived to understand this ability and develop it.
In the early days, he focused on developing his physical (kinaesthetic) intelligence measured by the Physical Quotient (PQ). This allowed him to use his body skilfully and thereby meet his physiological needs as put forth by American psychologist Abraham Maslow in his theory of the hierarchy of needs.
Man went on to hone his intellectual, logical and problem-solving skills which are collectively measured by the Intellectual Quotient (IQ). To protect himself from predators, he invented fire. To travel faster, he invented the wheel. To predict the weather, he studied the stars, so on and so forth. Over time, thanks to his IQ, he made tremendous progress. He even climbed to the top of the food chain and fulfilled his need for safety.
Eventually, he realised IQ alone wasn’t enough. He needed something else to keep a check on his emotions, as he recognised that his progress stumbled when his emotions ran amok. He termed this intelligence as emotional intelligence and quantified it using the Emotional Quotient (EQ). This intelligence helped him develop his intuition, empathise, and form genuine connections. Above all else, a high EQ also promised him social success—he could influence his peers effectively, giving him a scope to be led a community, society, etc. By integrating EQ with IQ and PQ, man developed an intellect that helped him settle down, start families and build communities.
With time, he laid special emphasis on IQ and EQ. These factors helped him develop and live in advanced societies. Today, he earns money, finds love, and climbs the rungs of power and fame. But he is yet to fulfil all his needs in Maslow’s theory of hierarchy. As Maslow himself wrote in his book Towards a Psychology of Being, less than one percent of mankind manages to achieve self-actualisation—the ultimate need to realise himself for who he truly is and be all that. As esoteric as it may sound, this need stems from his deep desire to find answers to existential questions—who is he? Why was he born? What’s the purpose, and to what end?
Spiritual intelligence activates the qualities of the authentic self, such as wisdom, compassion, joy, and peace.
Spiritual intelligence is governed by the soul, not the ego, and focuses on self-actualization and living in alignment with one’s true nature.
Spiritual intelligence helps individuals find purpose, realize their potential, and overcome obstacles by integrating their other forms of intelligence.
Spiritual intelligence encompasses qualities like wisdom, compassion, integrity, joy, love, creativity, and peace.
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