This will make me more appreciative of people I hold dear and less judgmental or condemnatory to those I do not have much liking for.
But how do we really get to know a person? I believe it is only through open lines of communication that relationships grow and nourish.
So from now on, I aim to breed the habit of telling people how I feel, as our actions are bound to be misinterpreted and what we are trying to portray could be very contradictory to their observations. Likewise, opening yourself up to people around you makes them comfortable to show their inner selves to you, too. This could also be achieved through listening, another skill I would like to master. Simultaneous listening and sharing one's insight is similar to Wood's perception checking. Perception checking is a very important skill in relationship-building because it narrows down probable interpretations of ambiguous actions (Wood, p. 50).
Listening to other people is as weighty as talking in building...
Relationships with no pretentions and those forged through open lines of communication are bound to last, and I do believe that quality relationships are essential not just for our sustenance, but also for our growth as well.
A also plan on learning other cultures more closely. That way, I would not be caught off-guard when I see other culture's practices and behaviors that digress from mine. That way, I would be able to sit through world news channels without being too judgmental on other races, feeling mine is superior than the rest. That way, I would cultivate even more respect for other people, those that I might be working with or people whose lands I might be travelling to someday.
References
Gray, John. (2000). Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Harper Collins.
Wood, Julia T. Communication in our lives.
Wood, Julia. (1997). Communication Theories in Action. California: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
