The highest form of emotional intelligence

The highest form of emotional intelligence is discernment. You may understand exactly why someone does what they do. You see their patterns, their pain, their past. You can connect all of the dots and see the bigger picture. But you don't allow your own empathy to override your self respect. Just because you can understand why someone is treating you poorly doesn't mean you have to continue tolerating it. True emotional intelligence doesn't excuse hurtful behaviour. It allows you to see someone's complexities of their problems while also discerning what's yours to hold versus what's theirs to heal on their own. At the end of the day, empathy without boundaries isn't emotional intelligence. It isn't love. It's truly just self abandonment. So stop abandoning yourself.