Communication is the key, it’s the gift that’s given free. Yet, it can be a real challenge to communicate effectively.

In the communication process, the circuit is not complete unless you have a sender and a receiver. Speaking at someone hoping they will find your words as insightful gems doesn’t count. This is something I find myself doing with my children quite often.

The role of sender and receiver is constantly switching throughout the whole process like a well-choreographed dance where one person is giving and then receiving when needed.

The best communicators do more listening than speaking. Here you will find the information you feel you should share and how to deliver it. Listening is an active skill and takes practice. Once we hone that skill, we’ll find we don’t need to say as much as our words become more effective and more efficient because we know what to say, how to say it and how much to say. Maybe not saying anything at all.

Deep breath in, (filling the bottom of your lungs allowing your belly to expand – not your upper chest) hold for three times as long as it took you to breathe in and then slowly releasing twice as long as it took you to breathe in.

Repeat.

And then repeat again.

Sit quietly for 1 minute.

Enjoy your day.

I was under the weather last week and took some time to recover and gain my strength before returning to my workouts. I went for casual walks and got outside, but nothing strenuous.

This week I started back and the same thought went through my mind like it does every time I get back on my horse; “I have to remember how good this feels to get back out here and do my thing.”

Whether it’s working out, connecting with a friend or family member, finishing a task at your home or completing a long and arduous endeavor – we feel so much better afterwards. Physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually.

I never get tired of that feeling and vow to remember the next time I’m feeling stagnate in my life.

Just go do something. More times than not, the answers to many of life’s questions you have are in the doing.

There’s no doubt I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: We are influenced by those we chose to surround ourselves with. So choose wisely.

When I was younger I didn’t realize I got to choose who I wanted in my life and who I don’t. Yes, I had friends who were closer than others, but there were times when I couldn’t find my way out of toxic relationships. I’m a very sensitive person and I didn’t feel good when I was around these people.

As I grew older and my voice became stronger, I was able to say no to the people who didn’t inspire me and make me feel good about myself. This changed my life tremendously.

I began to pick and choose who I spent my time with, as well as finding geniuses in their particular field that I was interested in. I would make a concerted effort to hang out with these folks until we developed a relationship. I still use this tactic to this day.

I love surrounding myself with people who are smarting than me. But, not only smarter, they help me be the best I can be.

That I never get tired of.

If I only knew then what I know now.

One question I find myself asking repeatedly is: how do we know what we don’t know? We find out once we know. A more practical answer I’ve come up with is to Seek It.

Much of what I’ve learned has been because of life experiences and what I’ve personally gone through. Those lessons will never be forgotten. But, what if we can discover gems of knowledge in areas where we know almost nothing about?

My response again would be to Seek it out and learn more.

I once heard Will Smith say that there is no reason why we cannot go to the library or a bookstore and not find a book about a problem we may be going through because more than likely someone else on this planet has gone through the same thing at one point in time or another and someone took it upon themselves to write about it.

Therefore, all the knowledge we could ever want is out there in this big beautiful world. We just need to go out with energetic curiosity and find it.

Let’s go!