ISSUE 12 JULY 2019

INFORMATION ACTIVITIES

ESP NewsNEWSLETTER OF THE EMPLOYEE SUPPORT PROGRAMME

WelcomeWelcome this issue of ESP News. This issue is dedicated to emotions and we wanted to address this subject from different perspectives. The importance of learning the skills necessary for emotional intelligence will positively influence our lives and relationships, both at work and in our personal lives. However, it is not possible to practice emotional intelligence without practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being still and paying attention to the present moment, which will allow us to understand better our emotions and how we manage them. Practicing emotional intelligence and mindfulness do not come naturally and sometimes we may need some professional guidance and support. It is for this reason that one of the articles in this issue addresses therapy and its benefits. We hope you find this issue interesting and we are available to support you through the Employee Support Programme.

Regards,

Stelmart KhalilAssistant Director(People Wellbeing & Support)People & Standards Division

01 What is emotional intelligence?

02 What is mindfulnessand how can it help my everyday life?

02 What is therapy?

03 News & Events

Inside this Issue

What is EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?

experienced emotions as a child. If your emotions were understood and valued as a child, it is more likely that you will better manage your emotions as an adult. On the other hand, if you experienced difficult and overwhelming emotions as a child with little or no support, it is more likely that as an adult you may find difficulty in managing and communicating your emotions.

Emotional intelligence requires individuals to be able to identify one’s own emotions, the ability to manage these emotions, especially under pressure and be able to understand and empathise with other’s emotions. Practicing emotional intelligence is not complicated; in fact, you may already

be doing so without even knowing. For example, reflecting on you behaviour in a team, being able to joke with colleagues in a respectful manner and practicing empathic listening in order to understand the needs of those around you. The more you practice, the more these skills will improve and even start to come naturally to you.

Practicing emotional intelligence may be helpful in situations such as giving and receiving feedback, dealing with challenging relationships and dealing with change. Emotional intelligence is useful particularly at the workplace as employees will feel more confident as they become aware of how their emotions impact their team as well as lead to better working relationships.

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability of being aware of your emotions and how these impact your behaviour as well as learning to manage these emotions. Therefore, emotional intelligence is about understanding your emotions and being sensitive to the emotions of others. Being able to communicate your emotions, both negative and positive, influences how well you connect with others, decrease stress and deal with conflicts and challenges. By being able to recognize your emotions and understand what is behind them, it can also enable you to see how your emotions may be impacting those around you.

The way we manage our emotions is very much linked with how we

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MINDFULNESS means paying attention to the present moment, which in turn helps to fully experience life situations. Mindfulness is a skill, and the more we are aware of it, the more we are able to practice it. This may seem like a simple skill, yet it is not always easy to practice in everyday life, especially with today’s fast-paced lifestyle most of us lead. With our busy lifestyles, multiple thoughts and constant social media connections, it is very easy to lose ourselves and become distracted. This is not only tiring, but it can affect us emotionally, especially if the thoughts that arise are negative, self-critical or judgmental.

Focusing on the present can help decrease negative thoughts and worries. In turn, letting go of these negative thoughts will have an effect on the way we feel and our emotional well-being improves. Also, practicing mindfulness helps our mind to clear, have better concentration and more energy to focus on other things such as creativity and problem solving.

Mindfulness exercises can be practiced by anyone and may include focusing on your breathing or focusing on a specific task you are doing, such as making a cup of tea. Carrying out these exercises will help you experience practicing these tasks with full awareness. Focusing on your breathing is a great way to control your thoughts and choose for yourself what you will focus on.

A mindfulness exercise - deep breathing

Choose a room or space with not many distractions and find a comfortable seated position. Start by taking deep inward breathes from your nose, followed by a long exhale through your mouth. Focus on the sounds and rhythm of your breathing and notice any sensations happening in your body. Try breathing from your belly rather than your chest. Spending a few minutes simply focusing on your breathing should have a calming effect on your body and allow you to carry on with your daily routine.

The aim of therapy is to improve mental health and well-being. Entering into any form of therapy requires commitment and an open attitude from the individual, as therapy is not effective if the individual is forced or coerced. Within the therapy session, individuals have a safe space where they can reflect on and explore their thoughts, feelings and emotions without the fear of being judged or criticised.

How can I prepare for therapy?• Take some time to reflect on what

you want out of therapy• Prepare any questions you wish to

ask your therapist• Being honest during the sessions

will benefit the outcome of therapy• Keep in mind that therapy may be

a tool for self-growth and not a sign of weakness

THERAPY IS A WAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW TO COPE WITH LIFE’S CHALLENGES.

What is

THERAPY?

What is

mindfulnessand how can it help my everyday life?

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NEWS & EVENTS

For more information on how the Employee Support Programme can help you or to make an appointment please contact us on:

Tel: 2200 1210 • Email: esp.opm@gov.mt • Website: www.esp.gov.mt

The aim of this newsletter is to raise awareness and provide information for educational purposes.

The service is confidential and free to use. Employees do not need permission from their supervisors to access and use the service.

For more information about the services offered by ESP, and also for queries relating to employment conditions or further assistance, you can contact the One-Stop-Shop for Public Employees by phone (2200 1225), email (one-stop-shop.psd@gov.mt), or by visiting us within the People & Standards Division at 3, Castille Place, Valletta.

CONTACT US

We value your feedback!If you have any suggestions

or comments please feel free to contact us.

Training

During the past few months, the ESP Unit has continued to

deliver training and awareness sessions in different schools

as part of the wellbeing campaign with the Ministry for

Education and Employment. Other departments that invited

us for sessions included the Pathology Department within

Mater Dei Hospital, the Department for Social Welfare

Services, and the Planning Authority.

ESP Unit Day

In April, the ESP team held its annual

unit day with the aim of reflecting on

the work carried out so far this year as

well as to plan the rest of the initiatives

planned for this year. This day gives the

team the time and space to discuss and

acknowledge all the work carried out. Psychotherapy placementOver the past three months, the ESP Unit

hosted three psychotherapy students in their

second year of training for an observation

placement. Students had the opportunity

to observe closely the work carried out by

the Unit as well as contributed in various

administrative tasks. We thank them for their

service and wish them well in their studies.

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