Many of the difficulties in relationships occur due to miscommunication. But by learning to be assertive instead of aggressive, we can learn to communicate well in a mindful fashion.
Mindful communication means being present in the moment within the conversation, without making assumptions about the meaning or intent behind the other person’s communication.
To be mindful is to be present in the moment. To listen mindfully means to be present in the conversation, without assumptions or conclusions, and without trying to anticipate what your partner is going to say, or without “reading into” the conversation by assuming things that weren’t really said or intended.
Mindful communication takes place on many levels. Dr. Albert Mehrabian, author of Silent Messages, researches nonverbal communication. In his research he found that only 7% of any message is conveyed through words. Of the rest, about 38% of communication is accomplished through tone, inflection, and presentation, and about 55% of communication comes through our body language, gestures, and facial expressions.
This means that about 93% of all of our communication is non-verbal! To communicate mindfully is to be aware of these factors as well. When communicating with others, be aware of your body posture, your tone of voice, the volume of your voice, your facial expressions, and your inflection.
The 7Cs of family resilience lead to more positive, mindful, and solution-focused relationships.
In the next few weeks we’ll be talking about the first “C” of communication, and how to mindfully communicate.