Hello Again!
Well first of all I want to apologize to for not posting a blog last week, time got ahead of me- a little bit of life did too. But any who I’m back! I’m aiming toward a fresh start for our new month and new season. Hurray! Anyway back to the blog…
The essays in this chapter were quite interesting. I’ve always been fascinated with interpersonal communication. It may be a little weird but I quite enjoy analyzing the way we communicate with each other. Anything from verbal communication or even body language, it can speak volumes about a person. Now on the other hand it is a little more difficult to analyze my own communicative ways. Yet I’m going to try and pin point a few of the quirks I am aware of.
Sometimes I find that I live in a bubble of happy delusion. It’s nice, but often times it makes it hard to touch base with reality. So obviously the view of myself can be a bit fuzzy sometimes. I have been told by a few friends that when they first met me they were afraid to talk to me. They were intimidated because I have a bunch of metal in my face, colored hair, and tattoos. It was sort of disheartening because I saw how easily a person can judge a book by its cover. This first impression could have delayed a great friendship. Even though I look like I bite, I enjoy hugs more.
Something else that has been pointed out to me is facial expression. Sometimes I mean to exaggerate but often times its sort of involuntary. I almost never have a strait face, a smile suits me. Yet I’ve found my self lifting one eyebrow, flaring my nostrils, and letting my jaw drop. It doesn’t seem to be a bad thing, perhaps it shows people I’m listening when I give such reactions. Though sometimes, it can be misinterpreted. Body language for me can big hints at how a person is feeling. So it makes me wonder how my body language is viewed. Along the lines of facial expression, is eye contact. Maybe its because I’m a woman but I find myself staring into people’s eyes as they talk to me. For me it’s a sign that I’m interested and listening. Working on the air force base, I’ve found some cultures don’t appreciate this act of body language. So when talking with some of my elder Korean co-workers I have to look away. These vibes can be good for some and bad for others, its really a matter of interpretation.
Yet this sort of help shape the vibes I was putting out. I try to let my personality show through my colorful physical appearance. Show people that certain assertions can be misleading, and perhaps fatal to a good thing. I would hope my hippie liberal, happy-go-lucky, laid back vibes would rub off on people. Its interesting to try to see how people view me based solely on nonverbal cues. Yet interpretation is diverse and bias, one has to be able to see through the shell.
Anyway that’s all for now, see everyone soon!
Vanessa
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I used to have the same problem with people judging me by my appearance. I used to have my lip and septum pierced and people would come and get their kids away from me if they stood too close. Funny thing is, I think I am pretty nice. People also don't trust me because I am quite, I've been told that it comes across as being a "bitch" in social situations. I am just uncomfortable and generally like to listen more than talk.
ReplyDeleteI think its awesome you can look people in the eye. I have always wanted to do that, which sounds odd I guess. I just have the hardest time with it, I get really uncomfortable if they look back at me. I think its just my social anxiety driving me nuts.
I think its good to step back and analyze your non-verbal communication, as sometimes it can speak louder than your words. It's not always easy to do. I think most people have more quirks than they care to admit...
ditto@ Karissa
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you can make eye contact with people, I most certainly can't. I get uncomfortable when strangers look me in the eyes as I talk to them because I feel as though I can see a reflection of myself in their face and and I'm looking at them awkwardly and they expect me to say something or to make eye contact with them. It makes me uncomfortable, but I also don't avoid or make those who do it feel bad. I consider people who do this to be honest and very nice, good people therefore I don't mind and I try to look the least uncomfortable that I can in order to not make them feel awkward or out of place.
Some things I do when communicating with people is that I use my hands a lot to accompany my words and display what I'm trying to say. I rub my hands a lot when I'm nervous or impatient. I must be touching something at all times or tapping my fingers. It's a strange habit, a lot of people don't understand the whole "talking with your hands" thing. I'm hispanic though and "talking with your hands" is perfectly normal, it's how we express ourselves.