LEARN
Something Worth SharingDeep ConversationsWhat’s the last message you exchanged with your partner, child or other loved one? Is it real, deep, feeling-based communication, or perhaps more of a transactional message to give or receive information? Of course, there is a time and place for passing information back and forth - how else would we know what time to meet someone? However, with technology and the fast-pace of life, we tend to allow our communication to default to being just transactional. When our three children were younger and in school, I remember the dinner conversation going along the lines of… Me: “how was your day?”
Each child: “fine” We now use the LEAPS structure when we eat together. Each person shares a ‘learn’, then we go around the table for ‘energy’ (how we each feel), next is ‘do’ (something we each need to do), then ‘processing’ (something on our mind) and finish off by ‘shouting out’ a person or thing we’re grateful for. Bingo! We now have much more interesting, entertaining and heartfelt conversations. When we lose the ability to have deep conversations - that involve great questions and listening - we risk losing empathy and compassion, can miss the chance to overcome challenges and understand what’s really going on. If we rely on social media to tell us what’s going on with friends, colleagues and contacts, we make assumptions and see the edited, filtered and unreal stories. Take some time to check in on those around you - it’ll be good for them and for you.
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