Do men and women Do men and women understand each other?understand each other?

The art of communicationThe art of communication

Non-verbal communication

• Immediate effect• Universal use• Facial gestures

– Smiles– Eyes– Looks

• Posture• Distance from others• Physical contact• Eye contact• How we shake hands

Communication stylesCommunication styles

WomenWomen• Intimacy is essential Intimacy is essential

within a friendshipwithin a friendship

• Discussing a problem Discussing a problem lightens the load – lightens the load – even if no solution is even if no solution is foundfound

Talk to Talk to create relationships create relationships

……women confidewomen confide

MenMen• Intimacy is an optional! Intimacy is an optional!

• Discussing a problem Discussing a problem means reliving it – this means reliving it – this is avoided unless a is avoided unless a solution can be foundsolution can be found

Talk to Talk to share opinions share opinions ……men confermen confer

Spiritual communicationSpiritual communication

• Common languageCommon language• Higher levelHigher level• UniversalUniversal• Language of feelings and Language of feelings and

desiresdesires– Happiness, fear, sadness, etc.Happiness, fear, sadness, etc.

• No opinionsNo opinions– therefore no judgementtherefore no judgement

A common FaithA common Faith

• Basis for our everyday valuesBasis for our everyday values• Share the same life goalsShare the same life goals• Can save us in times of crisisCan save us in times of crisis• Creates a lifetime projectCreates a lifetime project• Encourages activity & serviceEncourages activity & service

– Within the coupleWithin the couple– Toward societyToward society

• Solid foundation for the familySolid foundation for the family

No preconceptionsNo preconceptions

See the person for See the person for who they are…who they are…

not the image you’ve not the image you’ve created of themcreated of them

Being positiveBeing positive

• See things and See things and people in their people in their entiretyentirety

• ‘‘Positum’ (Latin) Positum’ (Latin) means ‘whole’means ‘whole’

Who are we?Who are we?

• You can only know others You can only know others once you know yourself once you know yourself (strengths, needs, (strengths, needs, weaknesses, motivations, weaknesses, motivations, etc.)etc.)

• Before choosing a partner, Before choosing a partner, be sure you’re not fulfilling a be sure you’re not fulfilling a need or weaknessneed or weakness

Getting to know a person• Shallow knowledgeShallow knowledge

– Have fun togetherHave fun together

• Deeper understandingDeeper understanding– Observe in times of difficultyObserve in times of difficulty

• Travel togetherTravel together

• Do they take responsibility Do they take responsibility for their actions?for their actions?

– Or blame othersOr blame others

• Beware of spoilt individualsBeware of spoilt individuals– They are the centre of their They are the centre of their

worlds and always will beworlds and always will be

• Family relationshipsFamily relationships– Showing respect importantShowing respect important

• Respect for othersRespect for others

The faculty of beliefThe faculty of belief

• Can influence our whole Can influence our whole lifelife

• Ability to be ‘a self-fulfilling Ability to be ‘a self-fulfilling prophecy’prophecy’

• Positive or negative effectPositive or negative effect– HealthHealth– Interpersonal relationsInterpersonal relations– LifestyleLifestyle– Optimism/pessimismOptimism/pessimism

The faculty of faithThe faculty of faith• Gives us the ability to Gives us the ability to

achieve high goalsachieve high goals

• Power of transformationPower of transformation

• Guides us to the right Guides us to the right pathpath

• Helps our inner Helps our inner developmentdevelopment

• Fulfil our ultimate goalFulfil our ultimate goal

• Sustains us in times of Sustains us in times of difficultydifficulty

The faculty of energyThe faculty of energy

• Spiritual energy is limitlessSpiritual energy is limitless

• Capacity increases with useCapacity increases with use

• Spiritual energy does not Spiritual energy does not diminishdiminish

• Memory is an example of Memory is an example of this capacitythis capacity

The rules of consultationThe rules of consultation

The first rule is to identify the problem precisely

To limit the scope of the problem

Never interrupt the other person while he is talking

Not to reply to an accusation with another accusation

To choose the right time and place for a discussion

To mantain a margin of respect

To avoid talking about the past

To avoid mentioning the other person’s weak points

To consider the discussion to be the result of mutual behaviour

Thank youThank youfor understanding me!for understanding me!