All persons must learn the art of talking and listening. Communication determines the quality of relationship.
Communication Skills
Communication determines the quality of relationship. Have you ever asked yourself what kind of communicator you are? People just don’t care if someone knows how to talk but does not listen, or just listen but does not talk. It is not enough to just talk or listen. We have to learn both skills so that genuine communication will happen. The importance of having communication skills cannot be undermined since we are social human beings. It is also necessary to learn the art of talking and listening for mutual enrichment while discovering the mystery of our humanity.
Intrapersonal Communication
A communication process that does not involve anyone but you and your inner self is called intrapersonal conversation. It is talking and listening to oneself, which is thought commonly as an insane activity but in reality normal and recommended. A way to attain personal integration amidst the many stimuli perceived by our senses is intrapersonal communication. When we have pent-up feelings of anger, our tendency is to burst out through misbehavior. Can we not ask ourselves first why we are angry? We have to identify the person, behavior, circumstances and things, and face them courageously. That is a process of intrapersonal communication. Other negative feelings such as jealousy and envy can be destructive if you do not talk and listen to your inner self. Intrapersonal communication can clarify issues and make way for a better understanding of oneself and other people particularly those you live and work with. Intrapersonal conversation is also recommended to process positive feelings. When you feel overjoyed by events, talk, and listen to your inner self about them. You will appreciate better God’s daily blessings for you. The habit of doing intrapersonal conversation will make us control ourselves rather than be carried by our emotions and sentiments or other external factors. Knowing oneself intimately can be liberating. We can enhance our strengths and use them to correct and overcome our weaknesses.
Interpersonal Communication
A conversation between two people is interpersonal communication. Two people, while in conversation, are entering into the person of one another. How far it can go depends on the closeness of each other. Talking to a stranger is casual conversation but to a loved one it is communion, which is the goal of communication. We need to test our ability to listen and talk to another person. People with the gift of speech can easily talk but may not necessarily listen. The good listener sometimes or many times speaks little. Trying to keep the balance between talking and listening is a skill and an art that can be learned. Miscommunication between spouses is oftentimes the root cause of marriage troubles. Husband and wife tend to blame many other factors but seldom look into the quality of their conversation. A similar situation may happen between parents and children. The first factor they should examine is their communication process. It is often or rare, intimate or casual, open or with so much reservation, honest or dishonest, regular or irregular? There are many ways and means to send and receive information with the new communication technology and yet alienation continue to increase. What is necessary to have the capacity to converse intimately with a spouse, a son, a daughter, a sibling or a friend are faith and trust in one another.