For a very long time my communication style was wanting. I spoke too much, I interrupted people mid-sentence and did not think through what I said, mostly repetitive in my speech. All knowing monologue other than dialogue. Through deliberate action, I have actively made myself deconstruct and reconstruct, totally relearn my communication skills and this has been a key part of my personal development both in and away from sessions. Working with clients has brought me stillness and presence in silence which I now do with ease. Restructuring my thoughts means I become more coherent and sequential.

There are four powerful conversations foundation under the acronym HAIL,

Honesty being true in what you say/being straight and clear;

Authenticity being true to yourself/standing in your own truth;

Integrity, being your word/doing what you say/being someone people can trust;

Love, wishing others well. Absolute honesty is not what others want, it must be tempered with love.

I have learnt that how I come across is just as important as the message and the fact that it is the truth does not mean it must be relayed brutally. It has taken me my lifetime to finally realise that the same message can still be passed effectively when care is taken in how it is communicated. People who communicate with caution are not necessarily weak or ineffective. Authenticity does not demand, digging deep into emotions or wallowing in that space.

Learning from my recent experience, a good conversation is a balance between talking and listening. If am paying attention I am present and in the moment. I enter a conversation with the sole purpose to learn, try to set aside my personal opinion and go with the flow. I now listen to understand, not to reply and that gives me a sense of powerful inner peace. I make deliberate effort to awaken myself, to my actions.