5. They won’t dwell on problems

Where you choose to focus your attention determines your emotional state. When you dwell on the issues that you’re facing, you create and drag out stress and negative emotions, which hinder performance.

Emotionally intelligent people focus on actions to better themselves and their circumstances. This way, they create a sense of personal efficacy that improves performance and produces positive emotions. These people won’t dwell on problems because they know they are most effective when they focus on solutions.

When you’re facing a problem, ask yourself the following question: “What’s the worst that could happen?” According to therapists, visualizing yourself handling the worst-case scenario should alleviate some anxiety. Then consider the possibility that the worst will actually occur.