Reigning in the Excessive Brain Chatter
In today’s world, when we communicate, we can easily slip into a mode of mindless chatting. Remember your words are powerful and are an indicator of what is going on within you. So let us put into practice the art of mindful communication…
Have a difficult conversation coming up? Meeting someone for the first time? Anxious about a big meeting or presentation? It’s easy to get nervous and allow our mouths to get ahead of our brains. In truth, allowing silence to couple with more thoughtful, connected speech patterns can calm others as well as ourselves, not to mention it commands attention and helps all parties focus towards more efficient and effective conversation. Take your mind into your own hands and reign the excessive chatter and rambling in:
Set an intention.
This is especially helpful for big meetings and tough conversations, where there may be many different personalities or pushback over an idea or thought exchange.
Here’s an example scenario: you’re heading into a meeting to discuss downsizing. It can bring up many emotions in people. A good intention might be, I intend to take three breaths before I speak if I feel myself getting frustrated.
Be fully present.
Listening is a VERY powerful tool for mindful communication. And in order to remain fully present, allow yourself to listen with your whole body. What are the smells you smell, things you taste in the air? With your eyes softened, what do you notice about people’s body language? All of this informs being present, taking in the experience fully in order to respond appropriately.
Remain open and non-judgemental.
See my blog post on ways to stay unaffected by others’ opinions (hyperlink). Instead of being quick to judge, and then, ultimately, quick to react, what would it look like if you took someone’s thoughts in without preconceived notions or judgements? Would it change your follow up question or sentence?
Relate to others with compassion.
Every human has this superpower. Use it friends. Use it often.
Looking to chat with an expert about reducing your personal mindful chatter?