Hi there!
It has been a few weeks since I wrote here. I had to take a break because we were in the last month of the semester. So, it was as busy as it can get.
In the meantime, though, I was able to contemplate on a few things. So, I will write about some of them in my upcoming posts.
This first one is going to be about communication.
What is communication?
The most objective definition is that it is an exchange of words. But at the same time, this definition is the most barren and leaves out many things.
There is much more to communication than words. For two main reasons.
First, words cannot explain everything. We all have most probably experienced emotions which we could not out into words, right? That is what I am talking about. That is the time when words do not suffice.
Second, which I will focus on here, is that some people are able to see beyond words we say while others cannot. That is what we call connection.
I recently experienced that with my therapist. I gave him all the necessary pieces of information, coupled with gestures that said the same things, but for some reason, he did not see what was beyond what I told him. He was a bit stuck on a generic method that normally works for people (and I know it works from experience, but it was not working for me then). He listened to my words ‘objectively’ and prescribed me that method. And of course, it did not work. The issue here, as far as I can see, is that he did not connect to my words.
Just around those times, a friend that I had just made listened to much less information I gave her on the issues I had and she got the bigger picture. She saw beyond my words. Her suggestions were much more helpful.
I am not aiming to blame my therapist here because I am sure he was able to connect with others. It just did not happen with me. Yes, we all connect with some people and not with others. That is, we can see the hidden meanings beyond some people’s words and not others. What I am trying to say is that sometimes, there is connection and sometimes not. When there is connection, there is communication.
Now, as a linguist, I firmly believe in the power of words. We have those so we can express ourselves. But they are the visible part of iceberg. There is a whole unseen part that we know subconsciously, but not really consciously.
What do you think? What is communication for you? Did you experience similar things? Shoot your ideas!