Healthy Communication | Healthy Community Living

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Healthy Communication



Healthy Communication

“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”

– Martin Luther King Jr.

 



 



Woman having a conversation using sign language

Introduction

To live well, you need to communicate well. Good communication skills can:

  • make it easier to reach your goals
  • make it easier to make new friends when you understand others and they understand you
  • decrease frustration and discouragement and help build healthy relationships

The better you communicate your thoughts and needs with others, the more likely you are to reach your goals. Communication has four elements. These include:

  • The Sender
  • The Receiver
  • The Message
  • The Context
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Woman speaking into microphone

Communication Elements

It is important to pay attention to each of the four elements of communication:

  • The Sender
  • The Receiver
  • The Message
  • The Context

Developing and communicating a message takes practice. Remember, the context in which you deliver your message is just as important to consider as the message itself. The context can change the way you need to develop your message.

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Women talking across a table

Communication Contexts

A communication context or situation has three main parts:

  • The conversation place or the physical environment, like the surroundings
  • The feelings each person has about the conversation
  • Each person’s cultural background
  • Problems with any of these can make communicating difficult
  • Good communicators can assess the situation and adjust their communication styles to reduce or eliminate these problems
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Man with hearing aids looking at another man

Communication & Disability

  • Sometimes a person’s disability may affect how they communicate and how someone else communicates with them
  • Considering disability in the context of communication can be part of the physical, emotional, and cultural nuances to consider for healthy communication exchanges
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Man using assistive technology to communicate

Communication Problems

  • It seems that no matter what we do, sometimes a conversation just does not go well
  • This might be due to the sender, receiver, the message or the context
  • Sometimes it is best to just bring the communication problem out into the open
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Resources

Session Worksheets

Write a Clear Message

Video Credits

National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability

Oak Park Church of Christ

Physician Health BC

The Daily Positive

Tyler Legrand

Wade Wong



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