Communication: Second-to-None

Any one who has read even just a few of my nearly 1,100 blog entries over the past decade or so should have no doubt figured out pretty quickly that I am a big proponent of communication as a profession, social science and practice. To me, it ranks second-to-none. Let me note that this is no way to minimize or criticize other fields of social science. They, too, remain vital to our growth and ongoing positive evolution toward becoming beings of the highest order. What distinguishes communication, however, is the fact it is our most fundamental of activities. It speaks to our how well we interact with others, how well we put forward our own messages and feelings, and how well we develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of others.

There is not a moment in our days when we do not communicate. It is not a coincidence that the same is true of breathing. Communication is that basic. The challenge is found in how well we communicate. The better or more effectively we communicate the less confusion, stress, anxiousness, misinformation, frustration, and discord there is in our lives. How great is that! This is not to say by communicating well there won't be times of disagreement Don't forget, we are humans and disagree is what we do. Effective communication helps us contend or process those bumpy moments and then, ultimately, address them.

Communication speaks to formulating and putting forward our messages, processing all the information that comes at us every day, and doing the needed due diligence in regard to learning how to compose substantive messages, learning how others prefer to receive messages, and being as knowledgeable as we can regarding subject matter and audience. Granted, none of these points is easy; but the bottom-line benefit is it makes our lives better much more satisfying and enriching. Who doesn't want that?