I just came across this interesting essay, which I actually found quite moving, about the ways in which learning how to communicate relates to being, or becoming, a fully developed human being. The essay is called “Reflections on Interpersonal Communication and the Journey of Becoming a Person”. Here’s a quote, or two:
“[T]ranslated into adverbs (and grouped into related clusters), we can say that at every stage along life’s way we are challenged to act (and converse with one another)…
… more awarely (of self, other and context)
… more skillfully, competently and wisely
… more honestly, sincerely, genuinely, congruently (inner matches outer)
… more caringly, compassionately, acceptingly, respectfully, warmly, forgivingly
… more creatively and “exploratorily” (with more creative openness to new experience)
… more courageously, hopefully and faithfully
… more generously and nurturingly, delighting in the happiness of others
… more meaningfully and expressively, organizing and expressing our experiences in coherent patterns of words, music, movement and imagery
… more gratefully and appreciatively, open to delight
… more engagingly, energetically and responsively
… more gracefully and beautifully (in the Navajo sense of beauty as cosmic harmony)
It is interesting to note that, along with overlapping and interweaving, all these qualities of action are open-ended. There is no limit to any of them. Now matter how much we had achieved on any of them, creativity, for example, we would want to go on and develop more.”
And…
“[B]eing wounded by life and learning to heal are central, inescapable parts of becoming a mature person. And, it is through many heartfelt conversations that we engage in this healing process, that we bring these painful experiences into focus and create a meaningful life story out of a seemingly random sequence of sorrows and disappointments. Sometimes these conversations are called, “psychotherapy,” but even more often we call them “deep friendship” and “parenting.” In all these contexts, according to Carl Rogers, healing conversations have the same qualities. The helping partners in these dialogues communicate honestly, caringly, respectfully, understandingly, expressively, and in a way that is open to new experience. In the company of such supportive conversation partners we reconcile ourselves to the sorrows and losses in life, and find the strength to start over, to meet life anew. ”
posted at 18:58 on Fri, 03 Nov, 2006 |
path: /living
All material copyrighted by Jen Schellinck. All rights reserved.