Communication (or a lack of effective communication) either makes or breaks most relationships. Relationships don’t exist in a vacuum. They exist between two emotional human beings who bring their own past experiences, history, and expectations into it. Two different people also have different levels of skill when it comes to communication, but the good news is that if communication is a skill, then it can be improved. We can all develop our communication skills. We can all improve our relationships with better communication. So let’s do that! |
Vulnerability is something many of us avoid out of a fear of being judged, being hurt or failure of some kind. To be vulnerable means to put ourselves in a position that could potentially hurt us. Many of us that fear vulnerability because somewhere in our lives, we’ve been hurt before. Whether it be a heart break, a rejection or a criticism. It made us aware of ourselves and we consciously avoid the possibility of being vulnerable again by dodging situations that could cause us the same pain, embarrassment or sense of rejection again. But vulnerability doesn’t have to be a negative thing. To be vulnerable means to put yourself out there and be open to possibilities and opportunities. Fear is only a temporary thing constructed by a negative association with the event or activity. |
The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place! What does this really mean? Communication is such an important aspect of our lives, as it’s the way in which we move thoughts, ideas and opinions from one person to the next. The problem is, in many cases the information is not transferred effectively and a part of the communication is misunderstood, lost or perceived incorrectly. Over 90% of how we perceive information is based on things like body language and tone, yet very few people spend time discovering the intricacies of how important it is to not just listen actively, but to also listen “completely”. At this event, we will examine many of the non-verbal ways that we communicate to others that 90% of what we communicate. |
Have you ever had a conversation where you really just want to express your feelings, but your partner just kept telling you how to solve the issue? Or maybe you’ve even been the problem solver, and can't understand why the person doesn't just fix the problem! Regardless of who you are, everyone needs both emotional support and practical help. Neither one is right or wrong, better or worse. The trick is knowing what is needed at any given moment and finding the right balance of listening and helping. Check out this 2 minute video!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4EDhdAHrOg |
Communication plays a major role in opening up and connecting with our partner, but there are many barriers to communication that we can overcome with some awareness. Unfortunately, when we are not "aware", we end up building walls in our relationships without even realizing it. If we want to overcome these barriers, it's vital that we take the time to become aware of what we are unconsciously doing that may be building those walls, instead of building the bridges needed to communicate more effectively. We will loook at many examples of both poor and excellent communication to see if we can better understand what might want to do, and not do when trying to communicate! |
In relationships, we often hold back from being fully honest with our partner, even when it’s important, out of any one of many fears. We might be afraid that we’ll hurt their feelings, or worried about how they will react. Unfortunately, when we cannot be vulnerable and express what is truly on our minds, we will build up resentment and anger that will more often than not spill over into our everyday interactions both with them and others. When we are unwilling to speak up it builds up barriers in our lives and relationships that will keep us from being our true selves and living an authentic life. |