Communicate Mindfully

When we have difficulties in focusing, our communicating with others could result in sending mixed messages. Perhaps because you may be lost in your own thoughts, you might appear to be distracted during these interactions. If you struggle with interpersonal communication or you want to improve your leadership skills, this mindfulness practice in communication will help you to bring more focus and attention to your interactions with others and improve your listening and expression.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to this mindfulness practice called communicating with others mindfully Humans are social creatures and rarely does a day go by where you don't interact with anyone Maybe you live with your family or you live with a roommate Or you engage with people during work hours When we have difficulties in focusing our communicating with others could result in sending mixed messages Perhaps because you may be lost in your own thoughts you might appear to be distracted during these interactions If you can keep in mind that being present while with others can be an exercise Not only in showing respect, But also in remaining in the present moment You may find it easier to communicate You may want to create a mental signal should your mind begin to wander That can help you stay focused on the person you are with as well as on what you are saying When you talk you can bring mindfulness to what you are saying How it may impact others and what your intentions are This mindfulness exercise will take just a few minutes and you can utilize it anytime This would be particularly useful for journaling about how your communications during the day went with others And what impact it had on you as well as on other people you interacted with If you struggle with interpersonal communication or you want to exude more confidence and present moment awareness while with others It is recommended that you do this once or twice a day while on the phone Talking with a loved one or during any social interaction First before speaking bring mindfulness to your intentions Ask yourself why you are going to say whatever you plan on saying Examine the possibility of saying it with even more kindness or patience Second Consider whether your words are timely and useful in this moment Try thinking of something simple such as I am present to this moment And you may find that not only are you more aware of what you are saying but that you can communicate your ideas with greater clarity Three We often gossip interrupt or talk simply to avoid uncomfortable silences One of the ways to become mindful of our communication is to talk to others And what purpose your words will serve the other person Four If it's possible that your words will put somebody else down Interrupt a person currently speaking or ring as untrue Try reconsidering your choice of words And finally, Consider your choice of words Five While talking speak slowly and be mindful of the words you are using When somebody responds either verbally or with body language observe how it feels in your body How do you feel in someone's presence? How do they make you feel? Finally Remember that you cannot control others but you can bring mindfulness to your own responses When you are done talking leave the words be listen to the other person and wait for the right time to talk again As you practice mindful speech more regularly you will be able to navigate challenging conversations With more ease To recap reminding ourselves to stay focused on our interactions allows for a better exchange of ideas When we are distracted by our own concerns it is easy for us to lose track of what we truly wish to say Our message then becomes garbled and we are more likely to have a breakdown in our own communication. The more we are present in our interactions however the more we will be able to listen to what others are saying and respond in a way that gets our ideas across more effectively By letting go of your inner dialogue it will be easier to convey your ideas in a thoughtful caring and attentive way today. I wish you a peaceful day of communicating with yourself and others salaam