Eighty years ago, Dale Carnegie wrote:
"When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion."
Logic is good, but in the end, in interactions and in life, we are emotional creatures. We send and receive emotions from other people. To make connections and resonate positively with others, body language and voice tonality are key. When we spend face time with a people, our antennae pick up their emotional "vibes."
For example, is your energy positive and upbeat, or negative and flat? We are all wired to pick up on the energy of others. Your pets, too. (Your dog may not understand your words, but he certainly senses your emotional tone and may run for cover when you're angry.) Young children can also sense your emotions, even before they acquire language.
On a spectrum of feelings, you will feel somewhere between elated and depleted after a few minutes sensing another person's energy. When a genuinely happy person showers you with positive emotions, you feel nourished. But when an "energy vampire" subjects you to an "ain't it awful" story with all the accompanying emotions, you become depleted.
To be at your best during conversations, be well-rested and maintain a positive attitude. When you are thinking and expressing positive thoughts, your body and voice will cooperate and you will resonate with friendly, nourishing emotions.
Until next time,
Loren