As tempting as it sounds, it is pretty hard to live isolated in a cabin out in the middle of the woods. Most of us form part of a society where we interact with people on a daily basis. In this process of interacting, one crucial component becomes key. It is communication.
Communication is crucial for so many reasons.
First of all, communication prevents misunderstandings. This does not mean that people will stop disagreeing, but at least, we will understand why they disagree. From there, we can use that knowledge to better respect one another.
Communication builds trust. When we open up, we become vulnerable. However, by doing so we give someone else an opportunity to prove themselves trustworthy. The same goes the other way. When others open up to us, we can prove ourselves trustworthy.
Communication creates a means to de-stress. Whether it is venting to a friend, writing in a journal, or talking to a therapist, communication allows the thoughts that clutter our mind to clear, resulting in our stress levels to lower.
Communication provides safety. When we are in trouble or need help, we can communicate that to others. People are more willing to help than we think. People who include, but are not limited to: doctors, counselors, peers, and parents.
Communication helps us gain what we hope for and want. From applying to a new job to taking guitar lessons, communication allows us to find means that help us achieve what we aspire to be.
Communication allows for self-discovery. When defending what we believe in, we find out how passionate we can be about a topic. When expressing love towards someone else, we can discover the great capacity we have to love others. Communication provides us a way to discover things we did not know about ourselves.
Communication encourages freedom of expression. We are all different. We all have something to contribute. When we truly communicate, we can share this freely with the world. It is so liberating to express what we truly feel.
Communication is not limited to just speaking. It takes on a myriad of forms: singing, rapping, writing, texting, dancing, martial arts, cheering, screaming, signs, body language, thoughts, and silence. It is when we become aware of communication that we can really use its power.
With communication, we can improve relationships of all sorts with family, friends, co-workers, and significant others. We can cheer someone up. We can clear-up misunderstandings. We can be healed and heal others. We can create solutions. We can build empires. We can make peace.
In order for communication to work, we must listen. If not, it becomes just words and ideas thrown to the wind. Imagine a world in which we could all communicate with one another openly and honestly. Imagine a world where we really take the time to listen and understand one another. Maybe then we could experience a utopian society.
Luckily, we live in the 21st century where communicating is so easy to do. We have social media, texting, emails, phone calls, video calls, and so much more. Plus, communication is seen as valuable. We want to hear what everyone has to say from the 'Apparently' kid to the Dalai Lama. We are now more open to speaking about things that have been historically, heavily ignored, such as mental illness, race, disabilities, self-worth, and so much more.
So, go out there and communicate! I need it. You need it. The world needs it.
