Conversation – What’s Yours Like?
I often find it easy to answer just why I continue to enjoy my vocation in health and wellbeing so much. I mean, who wouldn’t enjoy being asked – and empowered to add value to others and their lives – and in doing so, embracing that sense of ‘right-doing and thinking’ and the privilege of learning so much of others – whilst growing my own personal wisdom?
But I recently uncovered something within my own self-reflection; another crucial reason I love the therapy room.
I thrive within important conversations – and what more important conversations could we possibly have than that which concerns our health?
I do less well in situations involving small talk – and that manifests in how I tend to enjoy very specific environments and company. Does this make me a snob, arrogant or ‘above others’? No, I think it simply means I honour both myself AND those who would prefer less challenging, meaningful and deep conversation.
Does this make me appear introverted?
It does to me, in that I socialise less than from my earlier years. But others, I think, believe me to be quite outgoing. After all, I can facilitate group settings for those seeking self-development, and I can manage unexpected situations in the public setting. I am comfortable in new environments, and meeting those previously unknown to me.
What conversations do YOU enjoy?
How do you ‘feel’, emotionally, after a conversation or exchange with someone? It could be about the feeling you have when someone you pass in the street returns a smile or greeting. Have you noticed if you get no response to a ‘good morning or smile offered’ we may feel a little sad? Conversely, a warm response helps us to feel good!
Energy Vampires!
Have you noticed your energy levels after a period of time in someone’s company? If someone is being disingenuous in my company and I do nothing about that, I will likely feel drained of energy, sapped of a sense of wellbeing; it is part of the price for me – and others like me, of being highly attuned, highly sensitive to the language and true intent of others.
When we recognise this as a regular feature in our lives, we can elect to make more conscious choices to be with those who do better match our conversational needs. You may hear ‘us’ described as HSP’s – Highly Sensitive People!
Being highly sensitive is no bad thing!
Understood, and worked with, it is a gift. It helps me to ‘see’ through the eyes – and appreciate the lives of those I meet. It helps me empathise and engage with integrity. Regardless of whether you are sensitive in this way,
…meaningful and positive engagement breeds more of the same.
Could we use a little more of that?
Bob Brotchie is a counsellor, mindset consultant and creator of "Conscious Living by Design"™. He writes for Anglia Counselling, is featured on various other websites and introduces us to many guest writers all covering topics related to mental health and wellbeing.
Bob provides bespoke counselling services to individuals and couples in the privacy and comfort of a truly welcoming environment at his Anglia Counselling company office, located near Newmarket in Suffolk, England. Bob also provides professional online counselling, for local, national, and international clients. The therapeutic models offered are bespoke to the client’s needs, especially those in receipt of 'childhood emotional neglect' (CEN), whilst integrating a mindful approach to psychotherapy and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) principles. For clients experiencing trauma and/or phobia, Bob offers EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).