Communication is inevitably Ground Zero for most relationships blowing up.
Communication is the reason most of us have tension in our world.
Communication is one of the reasons that we get into arguments and disagreements with people in our orbit.
Communication is why we don’t set boundaries. Why we don’t tell people what we’re actually thinking and feeling. Why resentment appears and grows.
When people ask me what’s the one thing I can do to start improving my communication to start improving my communication I respond with:
Answer the freaking question! Answer the freaking question!
When someone, perhaps your spouse your parent your partner your friends, asks you what do you want for dinner? Answer the freaking question!
Do not fall back on “well whatever you want is fine with me“.
All you’re communicating is “I don’t know but eventually I’m going to be resentful and pissed-off because you’re going to select something I don’t really want to eat and I’m too fearful to tell you what I really want because I don’t want to be rejected!”
Wanna be a more effective communicator? Wanna be a more effective friend, parent, sibling, child, co-worker, boss? Wanna be a more effective in the various roles you play?
Answer the freaking question!
When someone asks you a question like: what do you want for dinner? What movie would you like to see? Where would you like to go on vacation?
Answer the freaking question!
You have the answer. I know you do. Everyone’s brain and mind formulates an answer when asked something. Then we filter and pause and hesitate and take a one-down because of fear.
Challenging yourself to communicate in that moment is huge.
Practice this technique today.
When somebody says what do you want for dinner and you want chicken and waffles and for God sakes say chicken and waffles. If you want pizza say pizza. If you want pasta say pasta.
Answer the freaking question!
If you want to improve your communication skills in an effort to improve your overall mental wellness then Answer the freaking question! Get comfortable communicating what you’re thinking and what you’re feeling in the moment. Get comfortable answering the question.
Try it for just one week. w
When someone asks you a question Answer the freaking question!
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