healthy communication
Your guide to healthy communication
Part of the issues with miscommunication is that you may not be attuned with yourself, so if you don't know how you feel, or what you need, how can you communicate this in your relationships? Tuning in is a simple way to get super clear on your feelings and needs. Some easy ways to tune in are mediation, breathing and journaling. Also, feel your pulse point on your wrist, get present to the moment, and then ask yourself, how am I feeling right now.
As you nail this down and are more in tune to yourself, the next step is to ask yourself "what do you need?" The answer may show that this something simple you can do for yourself. If your thoughts are going haywire, it’s easy to project your needs on another. Could you be due for a phone or work break, a break from the kids, a break from chores or housekeeping. Is it time for nature, or water or movement. What do you need in that current moment. If your answer is something from another person, having tuned in to yourself, you will be clear and able to communicate this better.
This leads me to step 3. If you have identified that you need something from yourself, do it! If you need something from someone else, take the time to ask. Take personal responsibility and be direct. For example, John, I am exhausted, can you cook dinner tonight. Mary, I need some help, can you do my laundry.
If they say no or can't meet your needs, that is okay. Communicating it can take a ton of the weight off. In the end, you may have wanted to feel heard, respected, connected or acknowledged and the simple act of opening the dialogue could have met that need. Or alternate solutions may present themselves with the clarity from that communication.
Take time to integrate these simple 3 steps: feel, need, speak.
Remember to control your controllables.
Need support? Want to live Life Expanded?