Emotional Communication: Tips For Better Self-expression

Have you ever felt so angry that you couldn’t even tell someone about it without getting confused? Are you fighting to make your partner or child understand what you mean? For many of us, effective emotional communication is challenging.

We know that communication allows us to convey a message between two people. On paper, nothing sounds easier. However, the majority of the population goes through life without mastering this skill.

Some people just listen to answer. These people often use aggressive language, and are unable to understand nonverbal communication. After all, it’s not just about sending a sentence from the transmitter to the receptor.

As human beings, we are emotional beings. In fact, everything we do and think about has a clear emotional part.

Learning effective emotional communication and enjoying this type of communication will improve the quality of your relationships. In addition, you will feel more capable, which in turn will improve your self-esteem.

How can emotional communication help us?

Effective emotional communication is not just a practice that facilitates our relationships. In fact, it is also a tool used by advertising agencies.

Scientific research, such as a study by Dr. Blair Kidwell at the University of Ohio, shows us how advertising campaigns that are able to get an emotional response from a consumer have a greater impact and improve product sales.

Effective emotional communication leaves a mark on the brain. In this sense, those who master emotional intelligence and are able to express their own feelings effectively will notice significant benefits:

• You prevent conflicts and misunderstandings. Emotional communication allows us to disagree with others without losing our nerves. This skill helps us live in harmony with others.
• You create a better relationship with your interlocutors.  The ability to communicate through emotions also creates more lasting bonds of trust.
• You help express your feelings clearly and confidently.
• You are more empathetic to the person in front of you. It also helps to interpret their nonverbal communication.
• By talking about emotions, you can explain the reasons behind your decisions. In this case, it allows you to explain why you have done certain things.
• You better. Sometimes we bury negative emotions like anger or frustration because we can’t express those emotions. Emotional communication is a bridge to the effective expression of one’s own emotions.

How can you develop your emotional communication skills?

The first step in improving emotional communication requires an understanding that emotions and thoughts appear simultaneously.

In fact, this is exactly what psychologist Richard S. Lazarus emphasizes. For example, when we are angry, it is normal for our thoughts to flow faster and in an unorganized way.

In addition, these thoughts are often filtered through the anger we feel. Even if you know what you’re going to say in a problem situation, that may not be enough. The first thing you should do is understand what you are feeling. This way you can express yourself effectively.

Conscience and emotion regulation

You will not be able to give a speech or host a conference if panic anxiety has overwhelmed you; you also do not resolve disputes with your partner if you are angry or anxious.

The first step is to separate each emotion one at a time: acknowledge it, understand it, and channel it. Every emotion has a purpose that we should consider. Only when you learn to understand and regulate each emotional state can you express yourself clearly and safely.

Empathy: Understand your reality and respect it

By practicing empathy, you will be able to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes and then return to yours, empathy will help us understand the other person’s reality.

We must not confuse our own heads with the feelings of others. It’s just a matter of reading the other, intuition, and understanding the other person’s order, and acting as required by the situation.

Empathy requires observation and listening. Sometimes the gestures of our faces reveal a reality that our words do not. And sometimes the tone of voice says a lot more than the message itself. Pay attention, feeling, read between the lines and respond. Respect the other person’s feelings.

The language of trust

Emotional communication has an anchor that secures it, allowing for good information exchange. We are talking about trust. By anchor we mean trust. To increase trust between you and your conversation partner, you should follow these guidelines:

• Use an empathetic smile. Avoid pretending a smile and forcing it. It’s about drawing a smile on your face, it creates an unobstructed and positive atmosphere.
• Lean your head to the side. This way, the messages to another you understand and that you are interested in what they are talking about.
• Acceptable look. Emotional communication is not possible without looking into the eyes of the person in front of you.

Self-confidence: effective and respectful communication

Confident communication means the ability to communicate effectively, securely, and respectfully. This will make the discussions more harmonious, and we will be able to gain understanding as well as solve problems.

Basics:

• Leave all your negative thoughts on the other side.
• Trust what you feel and what you want to say. Your truth, needs, and ideas should be heard.
• Pay attention to what the other person is saying to you, listen actively and respectfully. Don’t let emotions take you.
• Wait a few seconds before answering.
• Speak clearly. Short messages are more direct and easier to understand.
• Focus on the facts, not the opinions.
• Be calm and positive.

We can all develop the skill of self-expression. We just need to want change and commit to it. Let go!