Compassionate Communication

 “Only in an open, non-judgmental space can we acknowledge what we are feeling. Only in an open space when we’re not all caught up in our version of reality can we see, hear and feel who others are, which allows us to be with them and communicate with them properly.” #Pema Chodron

Suppose we want to help someone and this person is at a deprived status, perhaps living on the streets. Nobody would want to pay a glance at him or even hear him out. At this point when you (or anyone else) are determined to help him out there has to be a sense of compassion that is paid towards him. This compassion may also be accompanied by unresolved triggers that sporadically pop up making it all the more difficult for us to help this person out. 

 Showing compassion is a pretty high order and while we all may be in relationships of different sorts, the level of compassion is different as per the type of bond we have with that person. 

However, if we choose to help someone, the person whom we choose to help may not necessarily make it easier for us to do the same. We may have our inbuilt fears or grudges towards the person, for instance, a person suffering from AIDS, a poor person, a physically abused person, etc.

It is important to understand that to communicate effectively, it is important to be completely fair, unbiased and non-judgmental towards the person. For instance, what is the first thing that pops into your mind if you want to help any of these people?  

Compassion is the utmost most important factor when we have a dialogue or try to help a person out. Trying to understand how one’s experiences are affecting him/her is of utmost importance when communicating so that we become aware of the most effective way to communicate with him/her. 

Even if we want to help, at such times some of our unresolved triggers may pop us and we get tangled in a web. Some of these may include fear, anger, resentment, sadness, feeling neglected, disapproval, betrayal, etc. 

They may also be a mix of different emotions. Unresolved triggers are those emotions that exist on the subconscious level of our consciousness. These emotions may be suppressed intentionally, unintentionally or completely by accident. 

Have you ever thought of the factors that affected your communication with other people even if they are not in a deprived state? Can your communication be any more effective or compassionate?