In warfare, psychological warfare refers to tactics intended to reduce an opponent’s morale and will to fight. This can include tactics related to fear and intimidation, deception, and surprise. Militaries have long used psychological warfare to gain an advantage over opponents, allowing them to accomplish more without risking their soldiers’ lives or valuable armaments. Psychological warfare can also be used during peacetime to intimidate rivals into delaying or abandoning military intervention.

In warfare, psychological warfare refers to tactics intended to reduce an opponent’s morale and will to fight. This can include tactics related to fear and intimidation, deception, and surprise. Militaries have long used psychological warfare to gain an advantage over opponents, allowing them to accomplish more without risking their soldiers’ lives or valuable armaments. Psychological warfare can also be used during peacetime to intimidate rivals into delaying or abandoning military intervention. Here we will look at both the ancient and modern eras of psychological warfare and how various militaries gained powerful advantages over opponents, even when they were militarily weaker. Today, psychological warfare, or ‘psyops’ is a common tool of modern military planning.

As the tallest terrestrial animal on the planet, few creatures are as intimidating as an elephant. Add body armor and some blades or spikes to tusks, and you have a fearsome battle beast! Used in Africa and India, both African and Asian elephants were incorporated into armies. In India, <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/animals-used-in-war/">war elephants </a>were so common that they were entire corps of militaries. While not completely invincible, an elephant could easily sweep individual soldiers aside by swinging its massive head. Famously, horses were often intimidated by larger elephants and could refuse to charge into battle facing them.

Ancient Psyops 1: War Elephants

However, the psychological warfare inflicted on opponents by war elephants could be countered. Famously, <a href="https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/09/15/ancient-rome-flaming-war-pigs-used-counter-elephants/?chrome=1&A1c=1">flaming pigs </a>were used to terrify war elephants, which could turn around and trample their own soldiers in an attempt to escape. If an elephant panicked, it could cause almost as much damage to its own troops as the enemy! Thus, using war elephants was a high-risk strategy. Although the Romans successfully overcame war elephants–<a href="https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/gladiators/elephantus.html">at tremendous cost </a>–when fighting the Egyptians and Carthaginians, they came to adopt some for themselves, although mainly for entertainment and spectacle.

Over a thousand years after war elephants terrified the Romans, the cavalry forces of the Mongol Empire terrified cities from the Pacific Ocean to present-day Ukraine. The Mongols used effective psychological warfare against targeted cities by <a href="https://worldhistoryconnected.press.uillinois.edu/12.1/forum_may.html">offering a deal </a>: surrender and pay tribute to the Mongol Empire or face total destruction. The offer of a relatively generous deal made the prospect of brutal combat against highly trained and disciplined Mongol forces that much more painful.

Ancient Psyops 2: Mongol Deal-Making

As a result, many cities and fortresses chose to become vassal states of the Mongol Empire–taxation rather than combat. To help ensure that most decided to surrender, the Mongols made sure to leave some survivors of each massacre who could spread the word of how brutal the Mongols could be.

The Mongols expanded much more rapidly by being able to pacify potential foes with their deal-making. Similarly, cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar in Colombia in the 1980s used the deal of <a href="https://www.wsj.com/ad/cocainenomics#:~:text=Escobar's%20challenge%20was%20simple%3A%20%E2%80%9CPlata,lobbyists%20and%20paying%20regulatory%20fines.">plata o plomo </a>(silver or lead) to convince many law enforcement officials to turn a blind eye to his illegal activities.

By offering the proverbial carrot or stick, Escobar benefited when most potential opponents chose the carrot. Like the Mongols, this allowed Escobar to expand rapidly and avoid armed conflicts that could have taken him down sooner. But just like how the Mongol Empire eventually fell apart, so did Escobar’s drug empire. The drug lord was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-killed-notorious-colombian-drug-kingpin-pablo-escobar-2016-12">shot dead </a>on December 2, 1993, while fleeing police in Medellin, Colombia.

If challenged, the Mongols had the military might to conquer virtually any foe and could be plenty brutal about it. However, <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/vlad-the-impaler/">Vlad the Impaler </a>takes the term “brutality” to another level entirely. In 1456, at about age 25, <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/vlad-the-impaler-military-campaigns/">Vlad III of Walachia </a>defeated his primary rival for leadership, Vladislav II, in hand-to-hand combat and became the leader of the Transylvania region of present-day Romania. He ruthlessly executed just about anyone he did not like, ranging from petty criminals to potential political rivals and their families.

Ancient Psyops 3: Vlad the Impaler’s Showmanship

amously, he used impaling as his favored punishment, possibly learned during his childhood with the Ottoman Turks.Having victims impaled on vertical poles allowed Vlad to visually intimidate potential foes. Despite his brutality, Vlad was tolerated–and even celebrated–throughout Europe for militarily defeating and otherwise terrifying the Muslims of the Ottoman Empire. Famously, invading Ottoman sultan Mehmed II turned back when he encountered thousands of impaled bodies outside the city of Targoviste. Vlad’s sickening showmanship prevented a bloody showdown…at least that time. Later, Vlad the<warningtag> Impaler’s violent ways ended with his own violent death in 1476, when he was ambushed and beheaded on his way into battle.</warningtag>

Having victims impaled on vertical poles allowed Vlad to visually intimidate potential foes. Despite his brutality, Vlad was tolerated–and even celebrated–throughout Europe for militarily defeating and otherwise terrifying the Muslims of the Ottoman Empire. Famously, invading Ottoman sultan Mehmed II turned back when he encountered thousands of impaled bodies outside the city of Targoviste. Vlad’s sickening showmanship prevented a bloody showdown…at least that time. Later, Vlad the Impaler’s violent ways ended with his own violent death in 1476, when he was ambushed and beheaded on his way int<warningtag>o battle.</warningtag>

During the late 1890s, Britain wanted to unite all of South Africa into one colony. Inland, the Boer republics, of primarily Dutch heritage, resisted the influx of British people. In the autumn of 1899, war erupted between the British Empire and the much smaller, but highly skilled and determined Boer republics. The Boers laid siege to several British towns and garrisons and upset the military reinforcements who came to relieve them, which shocked the world. Using modern weapons and guerrilla tactics, the Boers were able to outmaneuver British forces that were used to fighting poorly armed natives. One of the forts that the Boers besieged was Mafeking, where the roles were reversed. Here, a handful of British soldiers used <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6239805/Army-officers-harrowing-account-ill-fated-attempt-liberate-British-troops-Boer-War.html">clever deceptions </a>to trick the surrounding Boers into thinking the garrison was more heavily defended. The Brits, including the future founder of the Scouting movement, Robert Baden-Powell, pretended to establish minefields and barbed-wire fences, which convinced the Boers not to attack. After 217 days, British reinforcements arrived and broke the siege in May 1900.

Modern Psyops 1: Boer War & Siege of Mafeking

The Brits, including the future founder of the Scouting movement, Robert Baden-Powell, pretended to establish minefields and barbed-wire fences, which convinced the Boers not to attack. After 217 days, British reinforcements arrived and broke the siege in May 1900.

While most people are familiar with the use of propaganda to bolster support for a war on the home front, <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/political-impact-of-word-war-i-ww1/">World War I </a>saw the use of anti-war propaganda intended to sap enemy morale and convince them to surrender. Already suffering from the industrialized war that saw the wide-scale introduction of machine guns, modern artillery, poison gas warfare, and even <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/why-were-tanks-invented/">the first armored tanks </a>, German troops were bombarded with leaflets announcing their efforts were futile. Some German troops surrendered and <a href="https://sofrep.com/news/the-history-of-u-s-psychological-operations-precursor-in-the-great-war-part-2/">asked for the rations </a>promised in the leaflets, perhaps hastening the war’s end.

Modern Psyops 2: World War I Propaganda & Leaflets

Future wars saw the use of propaganda leaflets on both sides. They could be dropped by planes or <a href="https://info.publicintelligence.net/GermanPropagandaLeaflets.pdf">released from artillery shells </a>. World War II saw both Axis and Allied powers try to convince soldiers from the other side to surrender and that they were being used as pawns for the elites. In addition to leaflets, both Germany and Japan used <a href="https://everything-everywhere.com/tokyo-rose-and-axis-sally/">English-speaking radio broadcasts </a>as propaganda. Both Allied and Axis broadcasts (and leaflets) tried to reduce enemy morale by claiming that the war was going according to plan for their side.

After World War I, Germany was forced to disarm. In the early 1930s, Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler became the chancellor of Germany and embarked on a policy of rearming the nation. Part of the Nazis’ aesthetic was massive rallies that featured displays of strength and vigor, intended to both inspire Germans and intimidate potential foes. Famously, the rallies featured over a hundred powerful searchlights aimed at the sky.

Modern Psyops 3: Nazi Rallies Fake Military Might

This <a href="https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/07/05/swimming-in-searchlights-the-cathedral-of-light-of-the-nazi-rallies/?chrome=1&A1c=1">cathedral of light </a>used most of Germany’s searchlights, but their use at political rallies tricked nations like France and Britain into believing that Germany must have had many more not in use.The use of Nazi rallies and aggressive propaganda likely led to Britain and France not trying to check Germany’s rearmament. Germany re-occupied the Rhineland and took control of Czechoslovakia <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/how-britain-hoped-to-avoid-war-with-germany-in-the-1930s#:~:text=Instituted%20in%20the%20hope%20of,as%20a%20policy%20of%20weakness.">in 1938 </a>.

In retrospect, Germany was not militarily prepared to fight France and Britain in 1938, and the appeasement shown to Germany at <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/the-munich-agreement-ww2/">the Munich Conference </a>only led Europe further down the path to World War II. However, the Nazis’ skillful propaganda during the 1930s convinced many that it was ready and willing to fight and win.

While World War I saw largely static trench warfare for much of the conflict, especially on the Western Front in France, <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/political-effects-of-world-war-ii-cold-war/">World War II </a>was much more maneuverable and complex. After the D-Day invasion of France in June 1944, the US used ghost armies of lightweight, artificial equipment, including inflatable tanks, to fool the enemy. In addition to physical decoys, ghost army units also used fake radio chatter and <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-ghost-army-of-wwii-used-art-to-deceive-the-nazis-180980336/">sounds of military action on loudspeakers </a>to convince the Germans that forces were elsewhere than they actually were…or much larger than they actually were.

Modern Psyops 4: Ghost Armies vs. Nazi Saboteurs

Believing they were facing large units up to 35-40 times their actual size, the Germans chose to disengage rather than fight, potentially saving tens of thousands of Allied troops.However, the Germans had their own tools of psychological warfare. In late 1944, as Germany planned a final major offensive to re-take lost territory in France and Belgium, it enlisted commando leader Otto Skorzeny to run an <a href="http://www.wiu.edu/cas/history/wihr/pdfs/BednarWIHRSp09.pdf">ambitious sabotage operation </a>.

Skorzeny, famous for rescuing imprisoned Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in September 1943, was a feared opponent. Operation Greif was intended to sow fear and confusion in the American lines during the Ardennes Offensive by implanting German agents in American uniforms who were fluent in English. These agents could then destroy equipment, plant false information, and basically run amok. Discovery that this was occurring did lead to temporary panic among US forces, but fortunately had little effect on the military situation.

After its unsuccessful Ardennes Offensive, known in the United States as the <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/ernest-hemingway-battle-of-the-bulge-ww2/">Battle of the Bulge </a>, there was only one possible way for Germany to end the war in anything other than total defeat: <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/wunderwaffe-super-weapons-ww2/">Wunderwaffe </a>. These “wonder weapons” were high-tech aeronautical wonders that included the Me-262 fighter jet, Me-263 rocket fighter, V-1 jet-powered buzz bomb, and V-2 long-range rocket. From <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140905-the-nazis-space-age-rocket">September 1944 </a>until late in the war, the V-2 rocket inflicted painful gouges on the London landscape. The V-2 was terrifying because it was supersonic and unstoppable; it could not be heard coming and could not be intercepted.

Modern Psyops 5: Nazi  Wunderwaffe

The V-2 was terrifying because it was supersonic and unstoppable; it could not be heard coming and could not be intercepted.Although the V-2 only killed some 2,700 people in Britain, it was feared that the V-2 could potentially be launched from ships in the Atlantic at American cities. While Germany undoubtedly hoped that fear of its Wunderwaffe would bring the Allies to the negotiating table, it likely only increased their resolve to push for unconditional surrender.

Ultimately, the capture of Me-262 fighter jets and V-2 rockets at the end of World War II in Europe greatly advanced aeronautic technology in the United States.

While espionage has long been a part of war, few were more active in modern espionage than the Soviet Union. At the end of World War II, it was revealed that spies had helped the Soviet Union gain secrets from <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/what-was-the-manhattan-project/">the Manhattan Project </a>. Active Soviet spy rings helped the USSR develop its <a href="https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/Events/1942-1945/espionage.htm">own atomic bomb </a>by 1949, erasing the American “trump card” that it had held. It was revealed in <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP15CH1PA1LE.html">late 1945 </a>that Soviet spying was not limited to atomic secrets but general classified information as well.

Modern Psyops 6: Espionage Rings & Red Scare

In 1952, it was discovered that a wooden carving of the Great Seal of the United States <a href="https://www.cryptomuseum.com/covert/bugs/thing/#:~:text=The%20Thing%2C%20also%20known%20as,have%20its%20own%20power%20source.">given to the US ambassador </a>by the USSR contained a listening device.The early <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/sociocultural-effects-of-the-cold-war/">Cold War </a>saw a sweeping hysteria about communist infiltration of American society. This Second Red Scare of the late 1940s and early 1950s saw politicians investigate alleged communist links of fellow politicians, government employees, and media figures.

The communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, resulting in the rise of Red China, only amplified tensions. When communist North Korea invaded South Korea a year later, resulting in the US leading a military response in the Korean War, fear of communism grew further. Fortunately, none of the espionage–real and suspected–led to war between the United States and the Soviet Union.

After the Korean War, America next took up arms against communists in Vietnam a decade later. This time, the conflict mainly saw guerrilla warfare in a jungle environment rather than conventional warfare. Both the US military and the North Vietnamese military (and their Viet Cong guerrilla allies) looked for psychological warfare advantages to sap the morale of their enemies. The US used spooky tape recordings in <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2021/11/radiolab-mixtape-vietnam-war-psychological-warfare/620814/">Operation Wandering Soul </a>to play on the superstitions of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers, hoping to get them to desert their positions.

Modern Psyops 7: Spooky Recordings vs. Booby Traps

Success was mixed, with enemy soldiers sometimes discovering the ruse and firing on the speakers or the recordings, spooking South Vietnamese soldiers and civilians as well as the intended targets.For their part, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong also played on Americans’ anxieties.

They used deadly booby traps to sap soldiers’ morale. Knowing that you could be maimed or killed anywhere, even with no sign of an enemy present, made many soldiers question the war effort. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1971/09/05/archives/army-is-shaken-by-crisis-in-morale-and-discipline-army-is-shaken-by.html">Between 1966 and 1971 </a>, US military morale plummeted as the Vietnam War dragged on, and little seemed to be accomplished. Some soldiers in Vietnam turned to illegal drug use to cope with continual anxiety and harsh conditions.

While much of psychological warfare is intended to frighten or deceive an enemy, some is just intended to tire them out. In December 1989, the <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/invasion-of-panama-operation-just-cause/">US invaded Panama </a>to oust drug-dealing dictator Manuel Noriega, whose police forces had just brutalized and threatened Americans in the country. With 13,000 American soldiers already in Panama thanks to the American-controlled Panama Canal, the additional 13,000 troops brought in during the swift invasion had little trouble defeating Noriega’s forces. But Noriega himself managed to <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/30/530723028/how-the-u-s-military-used-guns-n-roses-to-make-a-dictator-give-up">flee to the Vatican City embassy </a>in Panama City.

Modern Psyops 8: Loud Music Breaks Enemies’ Will

Storming a foreign embassy is a sociopolitical no-go, so the US had little choice but to wait and see. To break Noriega’s will, the military blasted hard rock at full volume at the embassy. Sure enough, Noriega eventually surrendered. The US continued using loudspeaker psyops during the Gulf War (1990-91), using Humvee-mounted speakers to convince Iraqi soldiers to surrender. A notable success was a combined loudspeaker and leaflet effort <a href="https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/LPE-97-3-Psychological-Operations-in-Desert-Shield-Desert-Storm-and-Urban-Freedom.pdf">convincing 1,400 Iraqi soldiers </a>to surrender to a much smaller force of US Marines.

In early 1991, Operation Desert Storm commenced with a massive <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/shock-and-awe-how-first-gulf-war-shook-world-171659">US-led bombing campaign </a>against Iraq. The mass coordination of computer- and satellite-guided smart weapons decimated Iraqi military targets. This swift campaign featuring the most modern military technology became known as “shock and awe,” with enemy forces having little hope of defending themselves with obsolete, Soviet-era weapons. The speed, precision, and impact of expensive American air weapons convinced many Iraqi forces to surrender quickly when ground forces rolled in.

Modern Psyops 9: Shock and Awe Air Wars

The US repeated its shock and awe air attacks in Afghanistan after September 11 and in Iraq again in early 2003. In both cases, the enemy surrendered quickly: the Taliban regime in Afghanistan put up little organized resistance, and Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein saw his forces surrender en masse after the <a href="https://www.cfr.org/timeline/iraq-war">US invasion in March 2003 </a>. Shock and awe undoubtedly helped demoralize these enemy forces, both of which were touted beforehand as hardened fighters. Few things can frighten an enemy like showing you can strike fast and hard without being hit back in return.

Not all psychological warfare is intended to hurt enemy soldiers. Some, such as Winning Hearts and Minds initiatives, can help US forces by appealing to local civilian populations. If locals begin to sympathize and side with American troops, enemy forces will have fewer resources to work with. From false shows to strength to undetectable booby traps to spooky and anxiety-inducing audio recordings, there is a myriad of ways to wear an enemy down by keeping them constantly guessing.

Summary: Keeping the Enemy on Their Toes Can Exhaust Their Will to Fight

Soldiers can handle tremendous odds, but the anxiety of not knowing what sort of threat is coming can wear down even the toughest warrior.Today, psychological warfare, or psyops, is a regular part of all military planning. The US Army has <a href="https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/specialty-careers/special-ops/psychological-operations.html">posted positions </a>in this field, ideally for those skilled in communications and diplomacy. Those with extra skills, such as foreign language skills, may be recruited to do psyops as part of <a href="https://goarmysof.com/PsyOp/PsyOprecruiting.html">special forces </a>.

Whenever there are potential foes, you can be assured that the US military and intelligence communities are analyzing ways to psychologically weaken and intimidate them.

12 Psychological Warfare Strategies Used Throughout History 

Throughout history, militaries have used various strategies of psychological warfare to lure enemies into traps, without physical force.

Understand yourself and those around you.

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12 Psychological Warfare Strategies Used Throughout History

The philosopher Aristotle described what it means to be emotionally intelligent hundreds of years before the term became popular. He said: "Anyone can become angry—that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way—that is not easy." The quote perfectly sums up a concept that has become a hot topic in psychology, education, and business: emotional intelligence. People sometimes refer to emotional intelligence as EQ (emotional quotient).

Emotionally intelligent people have a number of habits and behaviors that contribute to their ability to manage their own <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-emotions-2795178">emotions </a>and understand the feelings of others. Do you know anyone who is keenly attuned to their own feelings, capable of expressing emotions in an appropriate way, as well as empathetic and understanding of how others are feeling? That person is probably a very emotionally intelligent individual.

<ul><li>The ability to perceive emotions</li><li>The ability to reason with emotions</li><li>The ability to understand emotions</li><li>The ability to manage emotions</li></ul>The first item, perceiving emotions, is considered the most basic or the first level of emotional intelligence. The skills progress to the last item, managing emotions, which is considered the highest level of emotional intelligence. This involves the ability to manage your emotions and the emotions of others.

Four Skills for Emotional Intelligence

Psychologist and author Daniel Goleman identifies <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-self-awareness-2795023">self-awareness </a>as one of the key <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/components-of-emotional-intelligence-2795438">components of emotional intelligence </a>.Self-awareness involves the ability to recognize moods, emotions, and feelings.Part of self-awareness also involves being aware of how your emotions and moods influence other people. This ability to monitor your own emotional states is a basic requirement for emotional intelligence.

1. Self-Awareness

<a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-empathy-2795562">Empathy </a>is another of Goleman's major elements of emotional intelligence. This involves the ability to understand the emotions of other people.In order to interact with other people in multiple life domains, such as at <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/utilizing-emotional-intelligence-in-the-workplace-4164713">work </a>or at school, you need to be able to know what they are feeling. If a co-worker is upset or frustrated, knowing what they are feeling can give you a much better idea of how to respond.

2. Empathy

Self-regulation is central to emotional intelligence. Understanding your emotions is great, but not particularly useful if you cannot make use of this knowledge. Emotionally intelligent people think before they act on their feelings. They are in tune with how they feel, but they do not let their emotions rule their lives.

3. Self-Regulation

Emotionally intelligent people are motivated to achieve their goals. They are capable of managing their behaviors and feelings in order to achieve long-term success.They might be nervous about making a change in their lives, but they know that managing this fear is important. By taking a leap and making the change, they know that they might make their lives better and come one step closer to attaining their goals.

4. Motivation

Emotionally intelligent people tend to have strong social skills, probably because they are so attuned to their own feelings as well as those of others. They know how to deal with people effectively, and they are invested in maintaining healthy social relationships and helping those around them succeed.

5. Social Skills

Sometimes people are <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-an-empath-and-how-do-you-know-if-you-are-one-5119883">empaths </a>and in tune with their emotions, but struggle to actually share these feelings with others. Emotionally intelligent people not only understand feelings, they know how to express them appropriately.What exactly do we mean by appropriately ? Imagine, for example, that you just had a particularly awful day at work. You are tired, frustrated, and angry about how things went at an important meeting. An inappropriate expression of your feelings might involve coming home and getting into an argument with your spouse or sending a nasty email to your boss.

6. Expressiveness

A more appropriate emotional reaction would be discussing your frustrations with your spouse, releasing some tension by going for a jog, and coming up with a plan to make the next day better than the one before.

Imagine that you find yourself getting frustrated and angry with a co-worker. As you assess your feelings, analyze what you're really upset about. Are you mad about your co-worker’s actions, or does your anger stem from underlying frustrations and pressure from a boss who has heaped too much work and responsibility on your shoulders?

7. Perceptiveness

Emotionally intelligent people are able to look at the situation and correctly identify the true source of their feelings. At first, this might seem like an easy task, but the reality is that our emotional lives can be both complicated and messy. Locating the exact source of your feelings can be particularly tricky when you are dealing with powerful emotions such as love and anger.

Contrary to popular belief, you can learn emotional intelligence. Children and adults alike can learn to strengthen EQ.To start, try reflecting on your level of self-awareness. For instance, are you aware of your emotions? Do you understand how your emotions impact your beliefs and your behaviors? Do you notice how your behaviors impact others around you?Becoming aware of how we think and feel, and how our actions affect others, is a great foundation for building emotional intelligence.

How to Become More Emotionally Intelligent

<a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/mindfulness-the-health-and-stress-relief-benefits-3145189">Mindfulness techniques </a>can help you become more present with your thoughts and emotions. For instance, instead of yelling at someone when you're upset, you might use a deep breathing technique to buy yourself some time, rethink your strategy, and react with more understanding.

Mindfulness Techniques 

<a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-cognitive-behavior-therapy-2795747">Cognitive behavioral therapy </a>(CBT) is linked with improving emotional intelligence as well. CBT is a form of therapy in which people learn emotional regulation. A therapist will teach you healthy coping mechanisms to use to handle difficult emotions and improve your relationships.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

<a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/social-and-emotional-development-in-early-childhood-2795106">Social and emotional learning </a>programs (SEL) are implemented in some schools to teach kids how to be emotionally competent. There are also SEL programs for adults. SEL helps people develop their sense of identity, <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/managing-conflict-in-relationships-communication-tips-3144967">strengthen communication skills </a>, use empathy, and achieve personal goals.

Social And Emotional Learning (SEL)

There are online tests available that will determine a level of emotional intelligence based on your answers to various questions. The tests are usually multiple-choice; they ask what your reactions would be in hypothetical situations.For instance, do you respond to an argument by confronting the other person, shutting down, or <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-apologize-more-sincerely-3144467">apologizing </a>? When you make an important decision, do you <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/the-psychology-of-procrastination-2795944">procrastinate </a>, let someone else decide, or go with your gut? These are examples of the types of questions you'll find on EQ tests.

Emotional Intelligence Tests

Remember, though, there are more factors that go into determining your EQ than an online test could compute. However, a test could get you thinking about which of your emotional skills are strongest and which areas you may wish to improve.

7 Habits of Emotionally Intelligent People 

Learn about the habits that help emotionally intelligent people manage their own emotions and understand the emotions of others.

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7 Habits of Emotionally Intelligent People

Where love is, there God is also.

If you don't find God in the next person you meet, it is a waste of time looking for him further.

True morality consists not in following the beaten track, but in finding the true path for ourselves, and fearlessly following it.

No one can ride on the back of a man unless it is bent.

In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.

Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them - a desire, a dream, a vison.

Non-violence, which is the quality of the heart, cannot come by an appeal to the brain.

Wherever you are you will always be in my heart.

I hope these life quotes will make you think about many things in your life. 

Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule, and to later inspire movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The honorific Mahātmā (Sanskrit: "great-souled", "venerable"), first applied to him in 1914 in South Africa, is now used throughout the world. This video is quotes from Mahatma Gandhi. This quotes compilation is made of his best quotes and we hope that these life quotes can make you think about many things in your life. Mahatma Gandhi's quotes are definitely worth your time. Don't forget to take screenshots of the quotes you like to put together your collection of inspirational quotes. Thank you for watching another video with quotes, this time it's Mahatma Gandhi's quotes. ►► We don't insist, but you might want to subscribe to our channel — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnXz... Thank you for watching! #gandhi #quotes

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Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule, and to later inspire movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The honorific Mahātmā (Sanskrit: "great-souled", "venerable"), first applied to him in 1914 in South Africa, is now used throughout the world.

This video is quotes from Mahatma Gandhi. This quotes compilation is made of his best quotes and we hope that these life quotes can make you think about many things in your life. Mahatma Gandhi's quotes are definitely worth your time. Don't forget to take screenshots of the quotes you like to put together your collection of inspirational quotes. Thank you for watching another video with quotes, this time it's Mahatma Gandhi's quotes.

►► We don't insist, but you might want to subscribe to our channel — 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnXz...

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RedDust Motivation

Mahatma Gandhi's Quotes You Should Know Before You Get OLD | Political ethicist Quotes.

Mahatma Gandhi's Quotes You Should Know Before You Get OLD

The road to happiness isn’t always easy, nor does it really have one final destination. Joy exists on a spectrum. A lack of contentment is one of the most common overarching themes people bring up in therapy.While it’s best to seek tailored advice from a therapist for yourself, it can be helpful to see just how therapy has helped people with this particular issue.

Am I Happy?

“The best advice I learned is that it is OK if you’re not OK,” This was so powerful because we spend so much time resisting negative emotions and feeling as though we need to be happy always. In actuality, sadness and anger are totally normal and appropriate in certain situations.

You Don't Always Have To Be Okay

Whatever decision you make, just line yourself up with it.This helps take the stress out of decision-making by learning that you could be satisfied with any other decision. As long as you are fully on board with your reasons — and could have your own back whatever the outcome.

Trust Yourself

Therapists look at you in your roles as employee or friend and also as humans. And we have to accept that sometimes we will do things wrong and those times we won’t feel our best.We're allowed to occasionally fail, but pick yourself up and adopt a growth mindset and find joy in the process of its learning. We need to know that we’re all just trying our best.

Accept That You'll Mess Up Sometimes 

Sometimes we spend a lot of time judging people over petty matters and casual opinions. But if you think about it, life is too short to hold grudges and hate people.You could bottle up bitterness about people until you realize negativity is not worth holding in.

Let Go Of Judgement Over Things That Don't Matter

Each of your mornings, pretend and seek being happy when you get to work or school. You would force the creation of vibrant energy that continues to fill positivity in your day and each person who interacts with you. This in turn will make you feel better.

Start Your Day With A Good Attitude Towards Others

It seems pretty obvious, but it is so easy to put your own happiness on the back burner due to external stressors like work, relationships or just life as a whole. Don't say "I'll worry about myself later", learn to consider it NOW. People think they can have full control over other peoples’ feelings, but note the importance of letting that go. You can only control your own feelings, which means you can control the actions that trigger those feelings. Don’t ignore what makes you happy, or else you’re holding yourself back.

Take Your Own Happiness Serio

If you need to take care of others, make sure you give time and energy to focus of yourself as well, and prioritize self-care routines. “The more you assure yourself of your happiness, existent or non, you eventually will experience the happiness you conjured up.”

Self-care Is Not Selfish

Therapist remind you to consider that you're in control of your happiness and your life, and always use your voice no matter what.Do not settle for less than what you deserve. If you want more out of life, you can and have to make it happen.

Speak Up For ourself 

And again, the more you assure yourself of your happiness, existent or non, you eventually will experience the happiness you conjured up. Practice gratitude and notice the small things that you can appreciate like your food tasting great, car looking squeaky clean or workday being good. Doing this on a daily basis has allows you to focus on the many reasons to be happy.

Fake It Till You Make It

I'm a therapist and these are some precious learnings for everyone

Keep this wisdom from therapists tucked away for when you need a boost.

11 Golden Pieces Of Happiness Advice People Learned In Therapy

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/42734244-no-hard-feelings">No Hard Feelings </a>is a practical book for better managing the emotional side of work and building the skills needed to enhance your performance both within your role and more broadly throughout your career path by finding motivation again and managing negative emotions.

Book Summary 

"Work provides us with a sense of purpose and can offer instant gratification in the form of praise, raises, and promotions. But the more we tie who we are to what we do, the more we emotionally attach to our jobs.

Author Quote

In today’s workplace, we’ve been taught to suppress our emotions and ignore them. We’re told that they don’t belong in the workplace, and if we feel something, we should just “get over it”. But that’s not how emotions work. They are a part of us at all times, whether we want them to be or not. Even though they may seem like an obstacle to success in your career or your personal life, they are actually an asset: they make us human beings who can connect with one another and empathize with others’ experiences. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/42734244-no-hard-feelings">No Hard Feelings </a>teaches us how to use emotions to our advantage and deal with negative feelings that may stand in the way of our professional growth.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/42734244-no-hard-feelings">No Hard Feelings </a>teaches us how to use emotions to our advantage and deal with negative feelings that may stand in the way of our professional growth.

<ol><li>You can fix demotivation by taking time off, practicing self-care, and expressing your emotions.  </li><li>Emotions can be a great asset at work and in life if you know how to harness their power. </li><li>Companies that create an environment with room for feelings perform better over time. </li></ol>

Top 3 Lessons From The Vook

Whether we like it or not, <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/how-emotions-are-made-summary/">emotions </a>are an essential part of how people interact with each other at work. In fact, research shows that most people experience <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/anxiety-at-work-summary/">negative emotions at work </a>on a regular basis. This can have a negative impact on their performance and well-being. You can change that by being genuinely nice to your colleagues and showing emotion. Studies suggest that by doing so you contribute to a sense of belongingness and the humanization of the workplace.

Lesson 1:  Showing emotions to your co-workers and indulging in those PTO days can help you regain a sense of purpose  .

Leaders are crucial in developing authentic bonds at work within their teams by setting an example of how everyone should behave. Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks, is known for expressing his emotions at work. However, if you do so, make sure not to seem fearful or vulnerable. Being authentic in your display is alright, as long as your team doesn’t become fearful of the future of the company. Always keep your professionalism and have a well-thought-out plan to showcase. Another important aspect of work is time off.

Americans rarely take paid time off and usually work multiple jobs or spend long hours in the office. Unfortunately, this leads to demotivation and burnout. Make sure to leave some time for self-care, vacations, and living life. It’ll benefit your work too!

Emotions are incredibly important for helping us make good decisions. They’re often the first thing that alerts us when something isn’t right—they help us detect danger and keep us safe. They also motivate us to act in ways that will help us achieve our goals. Studies suggest that <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/emotional-agility-summary/">strong emotions, whether they’re good or bad, can help us make better decisions </a>as investors. They’re also great at alerting us whether something will benefit our career path or not. For example, if you had an unpleasant experience in a financial role it’s hunlikely that you’d take a new job in a similar position.

Lesson 2:  Emotions can help you make better decisions  .

It all boils down to our emotions helping us if we know how to leverage our power. In a nutshell, you have to filter the relevant emotions from the irrelevant ones. The first type is a source of information.  For example, the feeling of regret or <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/the-happiness-trap-summary/">happiness </a>that comes with a new task can tell you whether you should take it or not. A migraine or boredom in a meeting are examples of irrelevant feelings that you should let go of while engaged in something.

Google conducted a study to determine which factors had the biggest impact on team performance, revealing that the most effective teams were the ones with increased psychological safety. So, why is that?  It seems that the science of psychology debunks it: teams who are friendly with each other, encourage unanimous contributions, value each member, and communicate with each other are the best contributors to a project.  People feel better in places where others value them. When you feel good, you perform well. It’s truly that simple! However, sometimes feeling like your best self in a team implies having <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/difficult-conversations-summary/">awkward conversations </a>as well. Everyone hates being in an uncomfortable position, but sometimes having those conversations is better in the long run. If you have something to address, you need to learn how to put it out there, respectfully. Environments that facilitate these types of conversations are proven to have better results in the long run.

Lesson 3:  Organizations that foster learning and communicative environments are more successful in the long run  .

People feel better in places where others value them. When you feel good, you perform well. It’s truly that simple! However, sometimes feeling like your best self in a team implies having <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/difficult-conversations-summary/">awkward conversations </a>as well. Everyone hates being in an uncomfortable position, but sometimes having those conversations is better in the long run. If you have something to address, you need to learn how to put it out there, respectfully. Environments that facilitate these types of conversations are proven to have better results in the long run.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/42734244-no-hard-feelings">No Hard Feelings </a>provides you with the tools to understand your own emotions and those of others, as well as how to communicate them effectively without compromising your professionalism. The book offers practical tips for managing anger, stress, and anxiety at work, while also providing guidance on how to regulate your emotions when faced with issues such as bullying or discrimination. The book is a must-read for anyone who wants to develop their emotional intelligence and want to avoid disrupting their work-life balance disrupted ever again.

No Hard Feelings - Book Review

The 33-year-old employee who used to love their job but lost their motivation on the way, the 45-year-old manager who wants to foster a more positive environment, or the 50-year-old who finds it difficult to keep up with new trends and younger generations at work and is starting to dislike their job deeply.

Who would I recommend the No Hard Feelings summary to?

No Hard Feelings summary is a practical book for better managing the emotional side of work & building the skills to enhance your performance.

career

Career

communication

Communication

No Hard Feelings Summary

If you’re feeling stuck in a rut, or like you’re not getting anywhere in life, it might be time to change your perspective. Perspective is everything, and by changing the way you look at things, you can change your life for the better.

25 Ways You Can Change Your Perspective And Improve Your Life

The definition of perspective is “a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something.” In other words, your perspective is your point of view. It’s the lens through which you see the world. When it comes to changing your life for the better, changing your perspective is key.If you want to change your life, you need to change the way you look at it. You need to find a new perspective. This might mean changing your attitude, your outlook, or your mindset. It might mean looking at things from a different angle or seeing the silver lining in every cloud.Whatever it takes, changing your pers<warningtag>pective is essential if you want to </warningtag><a href="https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/life-lessons/"><warningtag>make changes </warningtag></a><warningtag>in your life. If you’re not happy with where you are, changing your perspective is the first step on the road to change.</warningtag><warningtag>Here are 25 ways that you can change your perspective and improve your life:</warningtag>

What it Means to Change Your Perspective

Whatever it takes, changing your perspective is essential if you want to <a href="https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/life-lessons/">make changes </a>in your life. If you’re not happy with where you are, changing your perspective is the first step on the road to change.

Comparing yourself to others is a surefire way to bring down your self-esteem and make you feel bad about yourself. It’s also a waste of time because you’re comparing apples to oranges. Everyone has their own unique talents and strengths, so there’s no use in trying to compare yourself to others.

1. Stop comparing yourself to others.

Change is a natural part of life, and it’s something that you can’t avoid. The only thing you can do is embrace change, both the good and the bad. When something bad happens, don’t resist it – accept it and learn from it.

2. Embrace change.

The little things in life don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. So if something goes wrong, or you make a mistake, don’t stress out about it. It’s not worth it.

3. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

When faced with difficult situations, try to look at the bright side. There is always a silver lining, you just have to find it.

4. Look on the bright side.

We often take the things we have for granted, without realizing how lucky we are. But when you start to appreciate the little things in life, you’ll be happier and more content.

5. Don’t take things for granted.

Holding onto grudges is a waste of time and energy. Forgive those who have hurt you in the past, and move on.

6. Forgive and forget.

The past is gone, and the future is yet to come. The only thing that we have is the <a href="https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/living-in-the-present/">present moment </a>, so make the most of it.

07. Live in the present.

Trying new things is a great way to expand your horizons and learn new things. It can also be a lot of fun.

8. Don’t be afraid to try new things.

Failure is a part of life, and it’s something that you can’t avoid. The key is to learn from your failures and move on.

09. Don’t be afraid to fail.

We’re our own worst critics, and we often beat ourselves up over the smallest things. But self-criticism does more harm than good. So be kind to yourself, and give yourself a break.

10. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

What are your values? What’s important to you? When you live your life based on your values, you’ll be happier and more content.

11. Live your life based on your values.

You can’t take care of others if you don’t first take care of yourself. So make sure to get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly.

12. Take care of yourself.

Surrounding yourself with positive people is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. <a href="https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/negative-people/">Negative people </a>will only bring you down, while positive people will lift you up.

13. Spend time with positive people.

Life is a precious gift, and it’s something that we should all appreciate. When you start to appreciate life, you’ll be happier and more content.

14. Appreciate life.

What’s your purpose in life? When you know your purpose, you can start to live a more meaningful and <a href="https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/how-to-find-meaning-in-life/">fulfilling life </a>.

15. Live your life with purpose.

In order to be your best self, you need to take time for yourself. So make sure to schedule in some “me” time each week. During this time, you can do whatever you want – relax, read a book, go for a walk, etc.

16. Take time for yourself.

24 Ways to Change Your Perspective And Improve Your Life

25 Ways to Change Your Perspective and Improve Your Life

Find  Self Improvement Tips - Curated from popular Books like Atomic Habits, 48 Rules of Power, Deep Work, Rich Dad Poor Dad and way more!

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12 Psychological Warfare Strategies Used Throughout History

7 Habits of Emotionally Intelligent People

Mahatma Gandhi's Quotes You Should Know Before You Get OLD

11 Golden Pieces Of Happiness Advice People Learned In Therapy

No Hard Feelings Summary

25 Ways to Change Your Perspective and Improve Your Life

Giving Your Partner the Benefit of the Doubt

Who are fake friends?

11 Tips on How to Not Get Distracted

How To Turn Your Mess Into Your Message - 4 Steps

It's time to Read like a Pro.

It's time to
Read like a Pro.