Hi Everyone,
As most can probably tell, communication is a big thing with me. I am fascinated by the ways in which people communicate with each other and am always looking for better ways to help people communicate.
What are your own favorite and most effective ways of expressing yourself?
For instance, a while back, I asked a young person I knew if she would share some of her artwork with me. Most of her drawings were of faces styled similarly to "The Nightmare Before Christmas", and in every single picture... the mouth was always sewn shut. I remember thinking, "Oh honey... What, or who is it that makes you feel like you can't say what you're thinking?"
At the time, I was thinking about all the things that were being communicated in those pictures without a single word. I know what those images were saying to my own soul-- and I wished very much that I could "speak" to her in "her own language" by drawing a picture in return that would somehow say, "I understand... Will you tell me about it?" Even though I told her to please text me anytime she needed to talk, it was one of the many times when words fell short, and I was really at a disadvantage because words are my primary form of communication.
Over the past several months, I've seen a couple movies in which a main character communicates through sign language, which I find to be fascinating, and very much like a dance. I have to wonder, does a person who uses sign language to, let's say, rant about a situation that's troubling them feel the same sense of relief that I might after I go on a 20-minute tangent to a friend?
How about the rest of you?
* What ways do you choose most often to communicate or express yourself? Do you talk, write, draw, sing, paint, cook, work out... or just go quiet?
* When you want someone to understand what you're thinking or feeling, what do you use to you express your thoughts to them?
* When someone else is trying to communicate to you, what means of communication do you prefer that they use? What is easiest for you to understand?
* How do you resolve the conflicts that can arise when you are trying to communicate with someone who uses and/or understands a different form of communication than you do?
One thing I have learned about myself is that expression through writing is very important to me. If I got into a relationship, I would have to tell him right off the bat, "If I suddenly go quiet, it's not because I don't care or am ignoring you. It's because I'm trying to think of what I want to say--and quite possibly, in written words."
There might be times when, instead of talking, I would hand the person a booklet-sized letter, which is something I couldn't explain when I was younger, and so I would use speaking, which I'm just not quite as good at. Now of course, since I do use words, it's easiest for me if the other person can also explain themselves in words, whether in speech or text, but I realize not all people can do that, so I'm trying to get better at communicating with people who like to express themselves in other ways.
The reason I have written these last two threads is because lately I have been trying to express things I don't even know how to communicate, and for some reason, my style of choice--words--are falling woefully short.
And so, I was hoping you all would give me some ideas about what works--and doesn't work--for you.
I am very much looking forward to reading your answers.
As most can probably tell, communication is a big thing with me. I am fascinated by the ways in which people communicate with each other and am always looking for better ways to help people communicate.
What are your own favorite and most effective ways of expressing yourself?
For instance, a while back, I asked a young person I knew if she would share some of her artwork with me. Most of her drawings were of faces styled similarly to "The Nightmare Before Christmas", and in every single picture... the mouth was always sewn shut. I remember thinking, "Oh honey... What, or who is it that makes you feel like you can't say what you're thinking?"
At the time, I was thinking about all the things that were being communicated in those pictures without a single word. I know what those images were saying to my own soul-- and I wished very much that I could "speak" to her in "her own language" by drawing a picture in return that would somehow say, "I understand... Will you tell me about it?" Even though I told her to please text me anytime she needed to talk, it was one of the many times when words fell short, and I was really at a disadvantage because words are my primary form of communication.
Over the past several months, I've seen a couple movies in which a main character communicates through sign language, which I find to be fascinating, and very much like a dance. I have to wonder, does a person who uses sign language to, let's say, rant about a situation that's troubling them feel the same sense of relief that I might after I go on a 20-minute tangent to a friend?
How about the rest of you?
* What ways do you choose most often to communicate or express yourself? Do you talk, write, draw, sing, paint, cook, work out... or just go quiet?
* When you want someone to understand what you're thinking or feeling, what do you use to you express your thoughts to them?
* When someone else is trying to communicate to you, what means of communication do you prefer that they use? What is easiest for you to understand?
* How do you resolve the conflicts that can arise when you are trying to communicate with someone who uses and/or understands a different form of communication than you do?
One thing I have learned about myself is that expression through writing is very important to me. If I got into a relationship, I would have to tell him right off the bat, "If I suddenly go quiet, it's not because I don't care or am ignoring you. It's because I'm trying to think of what I want to say--and quite possibly, in written words."
There might be times when, instead of talking, I would hand the person a booklet-sized letter, which is something I couldn't explain when I was younger, and so I would use speaking, which I'm just not quite as good at. Now of course, since I do use words, it's easiest for me if the other person can also explain themselves in words, whether in speech or text, but I realize not all people can do that, so I'm trying to get better at communicating with people who like to express themselves in other ways.
The reason I have written these last two threads is because lately I have been trying to express things I don't even know how to communicate, and for some reason, my style of choice--words--are falling woefully short.
And so, I was hoping you all would give me some ideas about what works--and doesn't work--for you.
I am very much looking forward to reading your answers.