How to Communicate Better: What I Learned and How I Practice It
- Ana Price
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Yesterday, I shared what communication can feel like when it tightens the chest, bends clarity, and quietly erodes dignity.
Today, I want to share what I learned and how I practiced it.
Because communication is not just about speaking.
It is about how we show up for ourselves and for each other.
This is the practice I follow.
It works.
And it has changed the way I stay human in hard moments.
1. Choose Words That Invite, Not Corner
Some questions sound neutral but feel like traps.
For example, instead of asking:
“What’s your thought process?”
Ask:
“Can you share how you approached this? I want to understand your perspective.”
One sounds like an interrogation.
The other sounds like an invitation.
The difference is not grammar.
It is care.
Good communication does not make people defend themselves.
It makes people feel safe enough to speak.
2. Do Not Question Someone’s Emotions
Do not say:
“Why are you triggered?”
or
“I don’t understand why you’re upset.”
Those words make people feel judged instead of seen.
Say:
“I notice some tension here, and I want to make sure this space feels safe for both of us. Can you help me understand what you need right now?”
This does three things:
3. Take Responsibility Without Blame
When words land wrong, don’t explain yourself into control.
Say:
“I notice my words may have caused confusion. I want to be clear and make sure we understand each other. Can I explain what I meant?”
Own your impact without questioning their experience.
Clarity builds bridges.
Defensiveness builds walls.
4. Know When to Step Away
Some moments are too charged to continue.
Walking away is not failure.
It is discernment.
Say:
“I notice I feel tense and not fully present. I need to step away.”
Or,
“I notice I don’t feel safe right now. I need to remove myself from this conversation.”
That is not avoidance.
That is self-respect in motion.
5. Listen With Your Whole Body
Communication is not only words.
It is posture.
Breath.
Silence.
Stillness.
If someone avoids eye contact or grows quiet, do not assume hostility or disconnection.
Assume protection.
Presence speaks louder than questions.
6. Say “Take Your Time”
When someone pauses longer than usual or struggles to find words, say it out loud:
“Take your time. I want you to feel safe here.”
Those words change everything.
They slow the room.
They soften fear.
They tell the nervous system:
You are not in danger.
Patience is not passive.
It is active care.
7. Use Empathy
Empathy does not mean shrinking.
Instead of:
“Why are you so upset?”
Say:
“I can see this matters to you. Can we talk about it?”
That keeps the conversation open
without giving up your ground.
8. Know Who Owns What
Every conversation has roles:
You own your words, tone, and presence.
They own their interpretation and response.
The space between you reveals what needs attention.
Ask yourself:
What is mine to carry?
What is not?
This stops pressure from becoming personal.
9. Make Words Ripples, Not Waves
Before you speak, ask yourself:
Will my words help this person feel steadier and understood?
Or will they leave feeling smaller?
The goal is not impact through force.
The goal is clarity without harm.
10. Anabella's Daily Practice
This is what I follow:
Pause before speaking.
Notice tension.
Choose words that invite, uplift, inspire, encourage, respect, and/or make a person smile.
Respect emotions.
Say “take your time.”
Step away when needed.
Protect dignity—mine and theirs.
When I do this, conversations stop replaying in my mind.
And people leave feeling more themselves, not less.
The Art of Communication
Every conversation is a canvas.
Words are color.
Pauses are brushstrokes.
Empathy is light.
Boundaries are the frame.
When pressure enters, the painting darkens.
When care enters, the image becomes clear again.
Communication is not about winning.
It is about preserving the human.
This is the practice I follow.
It restores.
It heals.
It ripples.
Try any of the steps #1–9, and you will be amazed at how much better you feel—and how much better the other person feels too.
Comments