Marissa's Notebook: Nonverbal Communication

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Nonverbal Communication

Sister McKenna asked us to write in our portfolio about two types of nonverbal communication - more specifically one we are good at and one we aren't so good at.

Friendly

I think in general I am a happy person. I always try to smile and be friendly towards others. (Of course there is always the exception of the really bad days...) I think I'm good at giving friendly smiles and letting people know I'm easy to talk to. I try to have an open posture and not walk around with my arms folded across my chest. I stand up straight and like to look people in the eye. I think this shows someone that you genuinely care and want to talk to them.

Wonder Woman

I think this in particular is a definitely flaw of mine as far as nonverbal communication goes. My friendly behavior doesn't always come across in the way I mean it. I like to be doing at least 3 things at once. Honest to goodness, I'm not lying. I feel like I have to be Wonder Woman. And I think this nonverbal behavior comes across as if I don't care or am "too busy" to talk to someone. But the truth is, I can be watching TV, working on homework, chatting with friends online, and talking to my mom on the phone all at once. (This drives her crazy, as I think it does a lot of people.) I have been trying to slow down my life and focus on one thing at once, but it's still a work in progress.

Two Persons - The Good

For this assignment I'm supposed to pick a person of whom I have a good relationship with and record how I have worked to improve this relationship throughout the course of the semester. I've decided I'd like to improve my relationship with my friend Breanne.

Me and Breanne met under some unusual circumstances last fall, and have been best friend ever since. Our housing complex last fall oversold on private room contracts and three of us girls that had private rooms were placed in one apartment. (Please note that there are only two private rooms per apartment.) Lets make a long story short, if our manager hadn't made this mistake, Breanne would have been in a different apartment (because I was signed up to live with a friend who had the other private room) and we would have never gotten to know each other. I believe me and Breanne were destined to be friends. :) We have so much fun together and get get along like peas and carrots.

Specific Goals: To have better communication, listen better, be more empathetic

Two Persons - The Not-So-Good

For this assignment I'm supposed to pick a person of whom I have a not-so-good relationship with and work on improving it throughout the course of the semester. I feel one person in particular that I would like to have a better relationship with is my sister Holly.

Holly and I fought nonstop growing up. I know it's because I took the place as the baby in the family. You see, Holly was the baby for 7 years before I came along. It's gotten better over the years, but I think it's better today because we both tend to "stay out of each others way". Not in avoidance, but because we don't want to start something. We have fun and play when we get together, but there's still some kind of wall in between us.

I'd really like to improve this relationship, as I would with all my siblings, but especially Holly. She has such a sweet, giving heart and I would like to be closer to her so I can learn more from her. Our relationship is difficult yes, but I'd like to become best friends with my sister.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Nonverbal Communication

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