<<< CONTINUED FROM COVER
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. By adopting this frame of mind, I will never let a setback destroy me, no matter how big it may seem. There is always room to put a positive spin on any scenario. As you probably know, this is easier said than done. Letting life impact you is far easier than taking steps to control life’s impact on your attitude. Unfortunately, we have spent so much time reacting
to things in our lives that choosing the right attitude takes a conscious effort every single day. It is not second nature to us, but it will be once we decide to be the masters of our own feelings. In a time with endless knowledge at your fingertips, facts seem less valuable than attitude. But all the research in the world is not going to change the way you feel. You have to constantly remind yourself to will these feelings into existence. Every day we must choose the attitude we want to embody, and, in adopting that attitude, we choose the way we act. At any given moment, we must remind ourselves we cannot change the past, the future, or the inevitable. We cannot change other people’s programming nor the way they carry their own attitudes. Yet, leading by example and displaying the changes you want to see in this world will encourage people around you to be more inclined to give it a chance, too. That’s the power of attitude. To find out more about how we can help you get your business, personal life, and everything in between back on the right track, give us a call at (208) 429-9275 or visit our website anytime at Sandler.com. –Jim Stephens
COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN HOW PASSIVE INDIVIDUALS INTERACT WITH THE WORLD
The four basic styles of communication include passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertive. A number of factors determine how a person communicates, including how their families interact in different situations. People tend to learn their communication style from parents or parental figures. Sometimes people never learn to communicate effectively in relationships — personally and professionally — and those relationships can suffer. This month, we’re taking a closer look at passive communication. People who communicate passively tend to have trouble or simply avoid expressing their feelings and opinions because they often suffer from low self-esteem, or they have long dealt with low self-esteem. They are slow to protect their rights, if they speak up at all. Here is the breakdown of the passive communication style. Passive individuals often:
• Fail to assert themselves • Allow others to deliberately or inadvertently infringe on their rights • Fail to express their feelings, needs, or opinions • Tend to speak softly or apologetically • Exhibit poor eye contact and slumped body posture The impact of passive communication is that these individuals often feel: • Anxious because life seems out of their control • Depressed because they feel stuck and hopeless • Resentful (but are unaware of it) because their needs are not being met • Confused because they ignore their own feelings • Unable to mature because real issues are never addressed
A passive communicator will say or believe things like: • “I’m unable to stand up for my rights.” • “I don’t know what my rights are.” • “I get stepped on by everyone.” • “I’m weak and unable to take care of myself.” • “People never consider my feelings.” Overall, passive people don’t typically respond to hurtful or anger-inducing situations. They “ignore” them and let negative feelings build up. At the same time, they don’t always realize these feelings are building up, but those feelings will come out once they reach their limit. Then comes an explosive outburst which is out of proportion with what ultimately triggered the breakdown. Unfortunately, after the outburst, they feel ashamed, guilty, and lost, but they will almost always go back to their passive behavior.
2 | WWW.CROSSROADS.SANDLER.COM
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online