How to Build Better Communications: First, Make Contact

A really important part of meaningful living has to do with meaningful connections with others in our lives. We may spend a lot of time with family, friends, partners, co-workers, but the quality of these relationships really isn’t about how much time we spend together. In fact, you may have examples from your own life of old friends who you see once in a blue moon, yet it feels as though no time has passed when you get together. What makes these connections different? Making contact!

Making contact is the experience of really being present and open to connect with someone in conversation. It is a way of listening and relating that allows you to connect more effectively and more meaningfully with others.

Here are some tips for building up your Making Contact Muscles!

Working with the Impossible...?

Recently I was thinking about the question “what is possible?”. It struck me that while we may not consciously ask ourselves this on a day-to-day basis, we are indeed answering it each day with how we live in the present and view the future.

As a trainer promoting wellness in organizations, I cringe at the extent of what I call “rah-rah-rah” books which seem to easily exhort notions like “the sky is the limit, just believe in yourself”. As a therapist, I feel this sort of philosophy oversimplifies people’s complex psychologies, and is much like tasting a teaspoon of sugar for a remedy: sweet indeed, but not long lasting and no nutritive substance to it. Surely, the way we think about things is very significant, but it is not always easy to change. And it says nothing of the very real challenges in the outside world that we may come up against: poverty, discrimination, competing demands to name a few.

Use Questions (Not Answers) to Get Out of a Rut

A few years ago, I was talking with someone who felt overwhelmed--she was pressuring herself over and over to “figure out what I’m going to do for the rest of my life”. She was frustrated and worn down. So, where to begin in a situation like this?  Here are 6 Steps to get the ball rolling again...

Welcome to Make The Most of It!

What is this blog all about?

Simply put, one thing we all have in common is a limited amount of time on the planet. How will we use it? How should we go about making the most out of our lives?

In my work as a therapist for the last 15 years, I have realized that so much of our dreams, conflicts, desires, relationships and emotional experience is in some way connected to these questions. I have been reflecting more on this question in my own life as well as working with clients in my practice and organizations invested in employee wellness as they explore issues connected with these ideas. I'd like you to join me as we blog our way along to wellness and meaningful living!

This blog is a series of thoughts on this question and others related to well-being and meaningful-life-making. My aim is to go beyond a "bucket list" or scorecard mentality in this exploration. Getting the most out of life has little to do with "doing everything", and far less to do with consumerism than we have been persuaded by advertising companies. Rather than providing simplistic answers to this important question, I want to introduce you to useful psychological concepts and practical strategies for your consideration. The goal of all this? To start creating greater meaning in day to day living right away, with a vision to make the most of our life experiences!

I welcome your comments and if you enjoy the blog, please recommend or link to others to grow our virtual community!

Regards,

Alex