Events & news

Communication skills

“Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don’t expect the important people in your life to read your mind. Don’t play foolish games with their heads and hearts. Don’t tell half truths and expect someone to trust you when the full truth comes out.” ~Angel Chernoff

Today’s quote reminds us that other people cannot read our minds.

Great relationships are built on healthy communication. Communication breakdowns occur when we avoid discussing our real feelings, or we make the wrong assumptions without learning the facts. The silent treatment, like withholding the truth, is another form of poor communication.

Our partners, friends, and family members shouldn’t have to consult the Magic 8 Ball to determine why we’re feeling hurt, lonely or angry. Each of us is responsible for speaking up and clearing the air of misunderstandings. So many problems can be avoided if we openly express our needs and expectations. ~CL

*** Miss any posts this week? Visit the Life Lines home page for additional content. ***

Throughout my career, I've worked as a book production editor, travel magazine editor, features writer, and weekly newspaper columnist. My award-winning lifestyles features and essays have appeared in many national magazines and anthologies, including Newsweek, Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, Writer's Digest, Victoria, Better Homes & Gardens, Bella Grace, and more. My weekly Sunday "Life Lines" column ran for 14 years in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI) and won a First Place (Local Columns) award from the Michigan Press Association. My essay collection, Writing Home, includes 93 previously published columns and essays focusing on parenthood and family life.

error: