Friday

Welcome to Friday! In today’s newsletter:

• The negative effects of aggressive communication

• Why we miscommunicate, and how to minimize it

• How to save time in the kitchen

• Tips for communicating more effectively

What Is Aggressive Communication?

As a concept, communication seems great! It’s how we share our thoughts, tell stories, and interact with others! However, it’s not always smooth. And unfortunately, some people aren’t always smooth in their communication methods.

Aggressive communication is defined as when a person gets their point across — albeit disrespectfully and without consideration for the other person’s feelings. They may speak forcefully, with an attitude, and try to take control of the conversation or even intimidate the other person in the process.

It can harm relationships, and if you’re on the receiving end, negatively impacts your self-esteem.

If you find yourself trending toward aggressive communication, try taking a moment to pause. Take some deep breaths, and think about what makes communication most effective. Try to remain calm and state how you feel.

However, if you’re on the receiving end of aggressive communication, try to remain calm and take a step back. Validate your own feelings. Be sure to do what you need to keep yourself safe and set boundaries.

How Miscommunication Occurs and How to Minimize It

While it seems simple in theory, human communication is complex — and unfortunately, all of the intricacies can lead to miscommunications.

When we communicate with others, we use our “lenses,” or our worldviews and perceptions, to take in all the different information our brains are processing. These lenses make us unique, as they are shaped by our thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

However, because these lenses are all individual from others, it can lead to miscommunications as we interpret and convey messaging differently.

Add the distractions from the world around us, and it’s simple to see how miscommunication may occur.

While miscommunications may be inevitable sometimes, there are steps we can take to improve our communication with others (more on that below).

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Methods for Improving Interpersonal Communication

Although communication may not be the easiest sometimes, there are a few simple tips that can help us speak more effectively with others.

• Practice active listening: Put down your phone and ensure you’re engaged in the conversation. This shows the other person you’re committed to the conversation.

• Ask clarifying questions: If there’s something you don’t understand — or want to know better — asking clarifying questions can help us get on the same page.

• Shift perspective: Trying to look at things from the other person’s perspective can help you understand where they might be coming from.

• Keep a calm tone: Even if emotions begin to rise, it’s important to still keep a calm demeanor. When we begin to raise our voices, this can cause the situation — and communication — to spiral.

Focusing on what we’re saying, being good listeners, and taking the other person’s perspective are all great ways to minimize miscommunications!

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: 93% of communication is nonverbal. However, our words still play a critical role in communicating with others!

• 🎁 Our Holiday Self-Care Picks: Don’t forget to check out our 2024 gift guide, a collection of thoughtful, wellness-focused products that help you feel your best, inside and out. Shop our gift guide here!

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ Snapshot Of The Day: We'd love to see moments from our readers lives that they are proud of! If you recently accomplished an achievement, experienced a joyful moment, or are proud of a picture you have taken, be sure to capture it on camera and send it to us for a chance to be featured next week! 

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: Challenge yourself and ask what you could do to be a more effective communicator.

Enjoying Note to Self?

Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at [email protected]!