The Power of Conversation
How often do you text someone who is in the same house or even room as you? Do you spend more time texting or Facebook chatting than talking on the phone or face to face?
Drop the technology and converse the old fashioned way, with your voice!
I know it may sound archaic, but exercise a little simplicity every now and again!
During my time at Nazareth Farm, a service and faith based mission in West Virginia, I met hundreds of people. Most of these volunteers only had a week to spend at the Farm. This meant that I only had seven days to get to know them, show them who I am, and establish a lasting relationship. The first week that I spent at Nazareth Farm was during the Fall of 2011. Without the luxury of technology, I was able to live in the present and have deep and meaningful conversations.
Busy work can provoke some of the deepest conversations. While working at Nazareth Farm, I shared some of the biggest pieces of myself while picking weeds, post-hole digging, and putting up drywall. The aim of your conversation does not necessarily need to be life changing, however, it may turn out that way. In my personal experience, some of the most common conversations and small talk can have an impact on you.
Common conversations can help you...
Define Yourself- When someone challenges your beliefs and morals, you are forced to rethink and redefine the principles that characterize who you are. Be yourself. Care about your values, make them stronger, and, most importantly, put them into practice. When your ideals and values are challenged, it is imperative to stick up for what you believe.
Broaden Your Horizons- From time to time, in good conversation, one party will bring up a subject that you have never thought about very deeply. These new ideas and opinions have the potential to not only open your mind to creating new ideas for yourself but also to expand your knowledge. When having a conversation, listen for the subtleties. Listen not only to the words but also to the meanings behind them. It can open up a whole new world for you. Everyone has had their own unique set of experiences that have shaped their perspectives. Remember to keep an open mind and you may discover more than you anticipated.
Share Your Knowledge and Ideas with Others- Each person has a different set of skills and has led a different life. Don't be afraid to tell stories (from your life) with morals at the end. Spread your knowledge, use your skills, and try to enhance the lives of those around you. There are lessons you have learned that others have not.
Opening yourself up to conversation can have a positive impact on your life. At Nazareth Farm, in three days, I established relationships greater than ones I have been working on for years. It may be hard to drop the technology and have a conversation face to face but it allows you to say more with less ambiguity.
Technology can fog what you are trying to convey. It is hard to express emotion and inflection through text. Nonverbal language makes up the bulk of our communication. From gestures to volume, inflection to emphasis, there are countless things that get lost in translation when you cannot see and hear the person you are conversing with.
Here is a challenge for you: Find a day in your schedule when it is not imperative to text or e-mail someone. Throughout the day, when you have something to tell someone, meet up with them, Skype with them, or at least call them on the phone. Have a conversation. You never know where your conversations may take you!
