When we change the way we communicate, we change society (Clay Sharky)

[su_dropcap style=”flat”]D[/su_dropcap]O YOU KNOW how a satellite communicates? A satellite is something that orbits, i.e. circles around a larger entity, like planet Earth. The Moon is a natural satellite of planet Earth, and one of the largest in our Solar System. The Moon, in synchronous rotation with our home planet Earth, has a gravitational influence that produces our ocean tides and the slight lengthening of our day.

(Calvin and Hobbes amazed at the endless size of the Universe) 

Invented by scientists and technologists, artificial satellites have been designed to perform certain duties for mankind, such as making it possible for us to receive television signals (watch TV), enabling us to communicate in a number of ways, including on and through the Internet. Some satellites have been designed to observe the weather, or take accurate pictures of the Earth´s surface. Kept in place by gravity and centrifugal force, a man-designed satellite helps us communicate and learn more about our planet.

Satellites help countries develop trade opportunities and increase business (Wayana Software. Geosats.com. 2015).

Satellites are artificially intelligent since they filter, receive, transform, and send out exactly the right information that they were designed to do. Nothing more, and nothing less.

The Dalai Lama has stated that humanity has more conveniences, but less time, more experts, but an increased amount of problems, more artificially built intelligence that stores and provides us with more information and knowledge but also altering our way of communication.

How I personally have translated the message of The Dalai Lama is that with all the capacity mankind has to develop artificial intelligence and various kinds of communication tools, we should also be capable of transforming all the information and knowledge that is available to us, into wisdom. Transform all the data and information into wisdom to solve many, or all, of the problems created by humanity because yes, most of the problems on planet Earth have been created by mankind itself.

Many of the world´s problems, and our everyday life problems, could be solved through improved communication. Communication, like the satellite example demonstrates, has a much wider meaning than our personal speech, or the language we use when we write or speak. Speech and words in a written form are only a tiny part of our entire communication system, but yet, words are powerful and ought to be used wisely.

Words and speech are a reproduction of how we perceive our environment, how we personally receive the signals being sent to us from our surroundings, how our mental schemes help us to filter out what is essential and important to us, and how we manage to translate these mental schemes (based upon personal experiences) and send out the messages that are aligned with our personal belief systems and values.

Those who understand the power of their words, and the way these are expressed, including our personal energetic field, body language, gestures, also have wisdom enough to be considerate in their communication. Communication can be trained, and improved through a variety of techniques.

Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder (Rumi)

Appreciative inquiry, a model for analysis and a social constructionist approach used for a variety of purposes, focuses upon appreciating what is, envisioning a possible future state, engaging in dialogue, and innovating the future. In my work life, I have used appreciative inquiry to conduct research e.g. upon organizational values, but also as a simplified tool in everyday dialogue and communication with people.

Learn more about appreciative inquiry, improvisation and relational leading in Taosinstitutes video with the same name:

 

 

Listen with ears of tolerance, see through eyes of compassion, speak with the language of love (Rumi)

Thank you for engaging in dialogue and for being considerate in your day-to-day communication.