DAY 23 OF 30!TIGHT BODY 30 DAY CHALLENGE!
Hi Team:
How are you today? Are you sleeping better, thinking more clearly, feeling like you're getting the hang of your new 'Behavior Modification?' GREAT!
Today, I'd like to discuss an area in which a good part of our lives are spent on......COMMUNICATION. Yes, our communications affect our health, state of mind, and ability to focus.
How's your communication? I'm referring to both your communications with others, and others communications with you. If you're like most people, sometimes communication flows smoothly, other times, we run into frustration.
COMMUNICATION
Communicating is a necessary part of life. We live, work, play, and move throughout the day, in world of people. People of all sizes, colors, backgrounds, beliefs, good habits, and not-so-good habits, surround us. To best maneuver our way through the day, we must observe one another, listen to one another, hear what one another is saying, and reply in a manner which the other person can best understand. Easy? Not!
THE ART OF LISTENING
I find the more a person knows we're truly listening, and acknowledge where they're coming from, the better the communication. This doesn't mean we need to agree, it means we understand what they are telling us. When a person feels rushed, gets interrupted, or there's a lack of eye contact, the communicator quickly realizes the other person isn't truly listening, rather they're REACTING. When a person is truly listening to another person, they will hear what they have to say. If the conversation seems to be going on for a long time, it's okay to signal their attention and let them know you'd like to have a chance to speak, as well. Far too many times, people become easily distracted when someone else is speaking. They get distracted by other people in the environment, a cell phone beeping, or the main culprit....by their own thoughts of what they themselves want to say next.
SEPARATING THE MESSAGE...
FROM THE EMOTIONS BEHIND IT
I'm sure the majority of your communications are wonderful. When the 'not so wonderful' moments come along, when people are irritated, angry, or lacking patience and seem frustrated, keep in mind the message they are delivering, MINUS the emotion behind it. When a loved one comes to you all upset about something, listen to what they are telling you, leave the fire-like emotions behind. People are always looking to communicate with someone, and let's face it, many times when things come up, it's not convenient, and emotions can just add to the fire, if we start reacting with our emotions too, rather than listen to their message, it can easily begin to throw the conversation off track.
LET THE HEAT COOL
Have you ever tried to 'work things out' with someone in the 'heat of the moment'? How did that work for you? Usually, this tends to make matters worse. Allow yourself, and the other person time to 'cool off', relax, think things through, and many times they will feel differently than they did in the heat of the moment.
SOLITUDE
As ironic as it may sound, I believe solitude is necessary for good communication. Give yourself a chance to relax, in a quiet place where there is no phone, television, or people to interrupt you. Relax long enough to clear your mind, slow the heart rate, and regroup. Many times we're so surrounded with people, places to go, and responsibilities to fulfill, there's little room for self-reflection, or meditation. Give yourself this time. You deserve it. Your loved ones deserve it. It's healthy, rejuvenating, and works as a cleanse on your nervous system. If you can be outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine, all the better. But please, don't wait for the 'Perfect' moment, because as you know, there is no perfect anything. If it ends up feeling like it was the perfect moment, consider yourself blessed!
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