Understanding, is the gateway to connection to others.
Understanding is not just about comprehending information, but it is also about empathizing with others.
Empathy: the ability to sense other people's emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling.
It allows us to truly connect with people on a deeper level and build meaningful relationships. When we take the time to listen and seek to understand what others are going through, we show them that we care and value their experiences.
Think back to the most recent sit down meal you had with other people. Who asked questions? Did anyone? What I mean is did someone share an experience they had and then it went around the table or back and forth sharing same or similar stories, or were there people asking questions of that person that shared their story?
Questions such as..
What was that like for you?
What did you learn from that experience?
What else happened?
Would you do that again?
(asking further details about things they glaze over to understand more, anything that's vague or you genuinely don't understand from childlike curiosity)
Engaging in this type of conversation shows a genuine interest in understanding others. The energy you're wanting is what to lead with, with out expectation that they will follow the first time, some people don't have this skill set and that's ok, I don't have it mastered and continue to work to improve it daily. Communication is complex, and fascinating. It's always fascinating to me watching reality type show's, if you know me you know I love the show Alone, and how we humans interact and communicate with ourselves, life and others.
By asking questions and actively listening, we are able to build stronger connections and create a sense of mutual understanding. Think about it. Back to that recent meal you shared, what if at some point you shared a surface level story about something important to you, and everyone leaned in and asked you questions to elaborate more on this think that you are really involved in. What's the sense you would get from these individuals?
That they care. What else?
That they appreciate that you are so fascinated and excited about this thing. What else?
That you inspire them to take action on something that's been on the back shelf for years. What else?
You'd learn so much about communication, and sharing what's going well in your life you're focusing in on the things we can easily overlook and be grateful for. This can shift the overall energy of a network or a group of people.
That you feel seen, heard and important. Now these are internal feelings that don't come from the other people at the table, it is however healthy effective communication.
What if you were to lead by example and exhibit this type of communication?
What would happen in your relationships?
What would you learn?
What would open up for you?
What else?