The Power of A Conversation

Hello. You heard me, but are you listening?

Meaningful conversations are so powerful in every aspect of life; they cement partnerships, relationships, business deals and friendships. However, the art of a conversation is slowly dying. Think, when was the last time that you had a real conversation? No, the chat you had about Emmerdale does not count. You know what I mean, the types of conversation where you share your dreams, fears and what makes you tick.

Having real conversations helps you feel purpose in life as they allow you to build deep connections with people. Developing relationships is essential for humans to function efficiently. Feeling connected to the world is vital for your wellbeing and mental health. Yet in a world that is more connected than ever before, why is loneliness at an all-time high?

The development of technology, social media and emojis has led to a detrimental effect on our mental health. Of course, they all have their benefits, but an increase in bullying, isolation and obsession has resulted in people distancing themselves from the beauty of the world.

As a society, we need to make a pledge to ourselves to stop wasting our lives scrolling but rather on the present world and the people who surround us; meaningful conversation needs to make a comeback.

But what is a meaningful conversation?

Meaningful conversations have these five characteristics

1. Open-ended questions

These types of questions require a more in-depth answer that goes beyond a simple “yes” or “no” response. They create meaning in a conversation, creating an emotional connection between humans.

2. Vulnerability

Vulnerability shows that you are human and authentic. It creates a connection on a deeper level where individuals feel that they can be themselves. Interacting on intimate level results in individuals letting down their guard and sharing who they are.

3. Focus

How many conversations have you had when you can’t remember what was said five minutes after the initial chat? Busy lives are a contributor to this. Being focused on a conversation is critical for humans to form any deep connections. Properly listening helps the person talking feel more confident and able to share more intimate thoughts and feelings.

4. Empathy

Empathy is essential for any form of relationship. Sharing similar experiences and understanding their emotions and thoughts on a topic makes an individual feel as if they belong. It results in them sharing on a deeper level.

5. Active Listening

Active listening helps people learn about situations and topics that people may not fully understand. Most people already form responses to conversations before the other person has finished talking, as this stems from a fear of looking stupid to another person. However, active listening allows people to fully understand, resulting in everyone leaving the conversation on the same page.

Why are conversations so much better at night?

Humans have the majority of their deep conversations at night, but why is this?

It is due to feeling more relaxed and chatting to the people you feel safest too at night. Evenings are spent on self-care and relaxing for the next day, so it is only natural to safeguard this time by conversing with the people closest to you.

Deep conversations are possible in the day, but they occur less due to the busy hustle of life. Nighttime chats allow you to skip the pleasantries and share your soul.

The power of a conversation.

A conversation can change the world.

There are so many topics that people shy away from such as, sex, puberty, grief, HIV and gender identity. There are an array of reasons for this. It could be due to a lack of understanding of the topic, the stigma surrounding it or the fear about saying the wrong thing (to name a few).

However challenging these conversations appear to be, they are vital for creating an inclusive society where individuals feel safe and flourish by being themselves.

How to be a better communicator?

Firstly, have an open mind and listen.

Asking questions is essential for understanding. It shows that you are interested in what they are sharing.

Have an open and relaxed body language. Nobody wants to have a chat about sex while the other person is sat there with their arms crossed.

Reducing the amount of eye contact during a challenging conversation can make it easier for people to share how and what they are feeling. You can do this by having the conversation in an array of different scenarios, such as:

• Chat while driving in the car

• Walk and talk - nothing better than the beautiful countryside is there?

• Talk in the dark - this eliminates eye contact in the conversation, which allows individuals to feel safer to open up.

There is no one size fits all mentality to having the perfect conversation. Having chats around difficult topics often happens over a period of time. It is so important that the information that is shared to be age-specific, to reduce the risk of scarring or confusing anyone.

Conversation is why Think2Speak is here. We empower people to have those difficult conversations to improve their quality of life. We have designed some beautiful products that enforce this while helping us to fund our support groups with young people and children in Lincolnshire.

Have you purchased one of our colouring books yet?

It is a colouring book with a difference. It ignites conversations around challenging topics such as gender identity and LGBTQ+. With a buy one, donate one approach, these colouring books are helping lift the spirits of children who are accessing a food bank. You can buy yours here.

If you are interested in any of our services or need a chat, give us a call on 01427 325535.