After a good chat with one of my colleagues this week I started reflecting on the value of conversations (or as we prefer to say in Trinidad - ‘ole talk’). The more I think about it the more I realize how critical conversations are to the development of many dimensions of our lives... and I am really referring to the traditional face to face conversations - the ones where we communicate not only the content of our dialogue (or sometimes monologue), but also the feelings and deeper value of what we speak.
So what makes conversations so valuable - well, here’s where we get an opportunity to share knowledge, ideas, thoughts... and to build on those ideas or refine them or maybe even change our original thinking. The great thing about the conversation is that it flows - it’s back and forth - call and response... and it is in the listening and responding that the new ideas, new ways of thinking, or consolidation of existing thoughts emerge.
I’m also thinking that the ‘conversational’ possibilities of learning; sharing; creative thinking; critical thinking; entertaining; appreciating... are defined by (but not limited by) those engaged in the conversation. The value of conversations with my children are as varied and potentially rewarding as conversations with my wife, colleagues, strangers... the real value being an awareness that this conversation is a valuable experience and as with most things, the value we get from it is only limited by the value we bring to it - and in the case of conversations, a value that is sincere, honest, meaningful, uninhibited engagement.
Looking forward to more sincere, honest, meaningful, uninhibited conversations with you.
+ve vibes,
Mark
Face to Face conversations take time and we dont truly make time for each other anymore, do we?
ReplyDeleteTo me, Life is about People; contributing significantly to others and to do that, we need to make the time, and yes, one of the ways of doing this is through meaningful conversation.
"Sincere", "Honest" and "Uninhibited" are words that I know you have chosen deliberately. That's really tough for a lot of us however, but that I guess is when we move beyond "Ole Talk"
Finally, "Change our original thinking" is another difficult challenge (You like laying down challenges don't you?) Our thoughts, opinions, biases, etc. are all formed from scores of experiences and influences and are not easily swayed; How does one keep an open mind?
Really appreciate your comments/questions here - so this is the call & response... I'm not sure if it is that we don't make time for each other (family, friends, work colleagues) or if it is that when we meet we are not using the time wisely. How much time do we give to superficial ole talk versus meaningful engagement? Or in the case of the work space, how much time are we willing to use (as employees) or allow (as employers) for 'off-task' discourse?
ReplyDeleteDo you really think that it's difficult for people to be sincere, honest and uninhibited? I figure that the issue is not so much about difficulty as it is about habits - and I'll write more about my thoughts on developing habits in another post.
I agree that it may be challenging to change our original thinking - especially if we are strong-willed, but that's the potential value of the conversation - if you haven't convinced me that I should be thinking differently and I haven't convinced you, then the conversation continues - if we are honest, sincere and uninhibited...
+ve vibes,
Mark