Communication Patterns
According to Petersen (2015), emotions have significant effects on communication hence a need for effective emotional regulation. When we are overloaded with emotions, we switch into what he calls the flat-brain state or syndrome that flattens our brains, making it challenging to communicate our thoughts or control our feelings. It is a state full of anxiety that compromises our abilities, particularly self-confidence. When in this state, Petersen argues that our relationships are undermined because we fail to attain healthy engagements. This is not only a state of mind, but it affects other body parts. Indeed, communication reveals inner feelings. Petersen talks of the "butterfly" feeling in our stomach during public speaking that creates intense discomfort. Petersen notes that the same happens to the heart should serve as a connection point. Communication brings the head, stomach, and heart together, allowing them to interact but still retain their unique identities. When these communication elements fail to coordinate appropriately, we make a wrong decision or ruin relationships.
Petersen's concept of flat-brain syndrome is not unique to our contemporary lives. A reflection on some biblical passages indicates that poor emotional regulation affects our personalities. Proverbs 14: 29 states, "he who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly" (NKJV). This verse illustrates how the flat-brain syndrome affects emotions, and one can turn angry hence destroying the relationship with other people. Besides, the Bible gives the example of Moses and how failure to regulate his emotions affected relationships. Exodus 32: 19 states, "so it was,...
So Moses' anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain" (NKJV). This was about a relationship with God and the Israelites, and their...
…supports this claim by sharing the
analogy of "The Flat-Brain Tango." The more negative forces unite, the more destructive it becomes. If one suffers from flat-brain syndrome and relates with people with similar challenges, it becomes challenging to control one's emotions. In the end, the communication goals are not realized. However, uniting with those who help instill confidence during a
speech,
learning from them, receiving encouragement, and remaining optimistic have significant contributions in shaping one's communication patterns.
In conclusion, Petersen provides practical contexts of our emotional experiences and how they affect our communication. It is normal to experience incidences of flat-brain, but the most significant element is how we address this challenge and transform it into a positive experience. The people we relate with play a significant role in defining our communication patterns. Listening to others helps in building self-confidence hence countering flat-brain syndrome. We should also embrace active listening skills because they directly link with our…
