Topic - Communication
Last night was really awesome! The speakers for Communication made it awesome, they are a married couple (14 years) and just did a fabulous job of relaying conflict and resolution and everything in between. The goal of communication should be 'mutual understanding', it's just how you go about getting the other person to understand. I can use the information from last night throughout all of my relationships (friends, family, coworkers, etc.). We talked about 4 destructive patterns of communication:
Withdrawing and Avoiding - doing your best to not have the conversation at all or trying to get out of the conversation you are already in.
Escalating - responding negatively towards each other, yelling, bringing up the past, trying to 'one up' each other.
Negative Interpretation - Interpreting something negatively when it really wasn't meant that way at all. Usually something you are insecure about.
Invalidation - subtle put downs of what the other person has said.
Lee and I can see that we have participated in these patterns and have work to do. But we are willing to put forth that effort for a good foundation to grow and pass on.
I am not one to remember or quote scriptures, but I really like the following two.
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19
So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. Matthew 19:6
Next week is the Role of Husbands and Wives...until then.
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