Have you wondered how many individual interactions you have with people in any given day? This includes talking, texting, emailing, hugging, anything that includes you and someone else. Now think about how genuine these interactions are. Are you really listening to what the other person is saying while you are checking your email? Are you comprehending what your partner is asking of you as you brush your teeth, put on makeup and try to put on your coat all at the same time? When was the last time you were interacting with someone and that was ALL you were doing? Try it. Put down the electronic devices if they are right in front of you. Turn off the TV if you are returning emails. Look your kids straight in the eye when they tell you about the awesome thing they built with Legos or what they had for lunch today. Uninterrupted attention is something that we as humans crave, sometimes without knowing it. Our minds our programmed to do a million things at once in order to "get it all done." For the next couple of days (even couple of hours, as this may be hard for some people), do not do something else while you are interacting with someone. Focus on them, focus on the conversation, focus on how they look, how they feel, how you feel. Pay attention to them, and you, and nothing else. I can't promise it will not be challenging, but I can promise that when practiced regularly, it will begin to change the way you communicate overall. By doing this, some anxiety, overwhelming feelings, and disconnection with others.
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