"Talk to Us" Month & Conversation Tips

Courtesy Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

What is “Talk to Us” Month? This month is dedicated to open communication and to expressing your emotions in a healthy way. Yet, it can be tough to connect, share, and to show support to someone at school, work, or at a university. Sometimes, not asking for help or the fear of having everyone know can make you worry about what others think about you. Other times you might feel you cannot trust someone enough to speak about what is bothering you no matter who the person is.

It might feel like a personal challenge to speak to someone with openness and to feel safe speaking about certain topics in privacy. As well as speaking about one’s mental health which is the purpose for “Talk to Us” month. “Talk to Us” began in 2016 by Samaritans to bring a better understanding of mental health. “Talk to Us” can begin at home by making your family and friends comfortable without pressuring them to speak about their feelings. You can have a book club and speak about a story that you read.

Additionally, using the story as an ice breaker to open about your feelings towards your partner or to initiate a conversation. Furthermore, some stories might make your friends open to you emotionally and might ask you for help. You can also have a tea or coffee hour with your friends and speak about what bothers you. Another way is to walk outside with a group of friends and speak about what is on your mind. Lastly, getting medical resources, job resources, or other resources to help them with what is bothering them.

Be available for them and speak with positive words. Be careful with how you speak to your partner or to your friends that are trying to lose weight or manage their weight because of medical reasons. Likewise, if they have financial problems or are having challenging time to accept a medical condition, disability, or offended easily; It is best to practice acts of kindness and have peaceful conversations to help them with mental and physical wellness. Remind them about their successes and not their disappointments. Let them speak about their emotions, feelings, and bothersome events when they are ready and calm to speak with you.

Accompany your friend or partner to a support group, a weight management class, or other health class to help them feel relaxed and less nervous. Be careful with using humor, repeating questions, or repeating what they say to you. Avoid speaking too quickly. Another recommendation is to avoid using phrases, “It is not me; it is you,” “It is not personal,” “Do not get offended by what I am going to tell you, “Or “This is the last text message I will send you because…”. Have a clear intention to have a conversation with someone by not blaming, shaming, embarrassing, or challenging them.

Safeguard that you and the other person are not verbally abusing each other. Give the other person a chance to speak. If you do not like small conversations, you can try to ask more questions without making them feel uncomfortable. However, avoid dominating the conversation especially if the other person is too quiet. There is nothing wrong in being quiet to gather your thoughts or to focus more on what the person is telling you.

Some conversations can be teaching experiences. Above all be yourself and have a thoughtful conversation about your emotions with someone. Do not have personal conversations at work or at high school where anyone can listen. Do listen and if someone has a personal topic, request to speak about it during your lunch break outside of work or be available for a conversation after work hours. If you are in high school, ask your friend to discuss personal topics after school hours at a park, at your home, or your friend's home. 

Yet do not avoid having small talk with your high school friend or your coworkers. Finally, make eye contact and be respectful of each other's perspective. Understand your quiet introspection even if your partner or other people feel too nervous or feel uncomfortable during your conversations. There is no need to explain why you get quiet in conversations. Sometimes being silent is necessary for reducing negative conversations. 

Keep in mind that being too quiet can make others feel nervous, uncomfortable, or have doubts about the conversation. Although, knowing that you or someone does silent pauses in the conversation; It does not mean there is a lack of interest or less listening. In the contrary, you or the other person might be overthinking, admiring, or practicing not to interrupt in the conversation. Other times being too quiet might make the other person misunderstand you or label you as quiet. It is essential not to label anyone as quiet, or other words based on one conversation with someone. 

Be interested in someone's conversation with you without prying. Remember that not everyone might be interested in having a friendship. Furthermore, if someone is interested in you romantically or for a healthy friendship; They would not tell you to be quiet or avoid having conversations with you. In addition, if someone wants to marry you, they will not insult your mother, father, or other family members. Practice improving your communication skills with observation, openness, and with respect.

Never do eavesdropping at work, at home, or at school. Ask appropriate questions, do self-care, and do not exaggerate to impress others. "Talk to Us" Month is about practicing your communication skills, managing your emotions, and an awareness of how you communicate. Have a book club with your coworkers or do volunteer work to practice your communication and social skills. Here are websites about improving your conversations. 

 

Wondermind-Small Talk:

How to Be Amazing at Small Talk

Instantly Improve Your Conversation Skills-Boundless:

Instantly Improve Your Conversation Skills - Boundless

* Courtesy Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash