"You are nothing but an unsocial dog"
- these were the words of a very dear friend of mine who once thought I could never communicate with people or talk with them, be the unsocial brat I am and stay at a corner all my life whether it’s a family party or a school program. He thought maybe my way of thinking, perceiving situations and relating to others are dysfunctional. I always had the lack of motivation to engage myself in social interaction. I'd never bother asking someone how they are. Walk around inside for 30 seconds when I'd hear one of my neighbours in the hallway so that I don’t have to talk to them. Go all 'YEPPIE' when someone would cancel plan on me. And let’s not forget the motto us unsocial people live our life by
'' Don't be silly! I am a fan of
anything that tries to replace actual human contact!"(Quote
Courtesy-Sheldon Cooper from the show Big Bang Theory)!
But I broke
these chains! From the guy who hardly ever communicated with anyone except his
best friend at school, to the guy with hundreds of friends! And as I overcame
this whole unsocial barrier I learned a valuable lesson! Positivity and
communication go hand in hand! A little flint of positivity will help you grow
your communication skill. Walk up to your parents, ask them how they are, how
their day was. This could be the beginning. If you can do that, why not ask
them about the most interesting part of their day? And this is how you build a
conversation. Push apart the negativity and it will fill up the space in
between the silence! Learn to appreciate and compliment. It’s not a crime to let
someone know once in a while how pretty they are, or admire the dish your mom
prepared for dinner.
Below are few quotes, collected from the internet that could motivate you and help you improve your communication skill:
Below are few quotes, collected from the internet that could motivate you and help you improve your communication skill:
1. “You
never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life”
~ Zig Ziglar
A well-timed positive word or
compliment can change the course of someone’s day.
2. “Who
you are is speaking so loudly that I can’t hear what you’re saying” ~ Ralph
Waldo Emerson
Being authentic to who you are speaks
volumes. People are drawn to authenticity and vulnerability. Coming off like a
slimy, fake used-car dealer (or Kardashian) pushes people away.
3. “If
you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all” ~ Thumper from
Bambi
Negative words traumatize and leave
an impression that can last for days. If the communication is going to do harm,
take Thumper’s advice.
4. “You
can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than
you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you” ~ Dale
Carnegie
“You” is the most important word in
any conversation. Minimize the “I” and the “Me” and focus on the “you.”
5.
“What will they think of me? Must be put aside for bliss” ~ Joseph Campbell
Put aside your worries about what
other’s will think of you and just serve others with your message.
6. “I
speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the
president of the university” ~ Albert Einstein
Treat everyone with respect no matter
their status.
7.
“Don’t be embarrassed by your failures. Learn from them and start again” ~ Sir
Richard Branson
Miscommunications and
misunderstandings happen! You learn much about how you communicate through your
mistakes and you learn a lot about the person you are talking to as well!
8. “The
most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said” ~ Peter
Drucker
The ability to read the emotions and nonverbal
communication of another person increases understanding and elevates
relationships.
9.
“Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to
say something” ~ Plato
Speak with a purpose, not just to
fill-up a silence. Remember: silence is a gift that allows self-reflection.
10. “Be
sincere; be brief; be seated” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
Amen!
11.
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the
difference between lightning and a lightning bug” ~ Mark Twain
Words are powerful! When you chose
just the right word, you increase understanding ten-fold.
12.
“The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines
the quality of our lives” ~ Anthony Robbins
If you are positive and communicate
positivity, you will attract more of that into your life.
And here is a challenge for you I picked from the internet that will help you slowly. This is one type of social skill training and you'd see the improvement soon once you start the challenge:
Go out today and make a positive
impact on someone’s day. Listen. Be sincere. Smile generously. Be kind in
praise and compliments. Communication has power to make a difference and change
lives, or at the very least make someone’s day more luminous.
