Let’s face it – holiday gatherings are coming whether we’re ready or not. Soon we’ll all be sitting around the table with family and friends, diving into conversations about everything from the latest celebrity gossip to why your cousin decided now was the perfect time for that dramatic hair change. And while the food might be delicious, the conversations can sometimes be… spicy. I recently came across some fascinating insights from neuroscience researcher Mark Robert Waldman that completely changed how I think about handling these tricky holiday conversations. Here’s what I learned about keeping things peaceful when the wine starts flowing and opinions start flying. First, we’re all actually terrible at communicating – yes, every single one of us. We talk too much, listen too little, and spend more time planning our next brilliant point than actually hearing what others are saying. The real kicker? Most of our communication isn’t even in the words we use – it’s all about facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice. The Secret to Better Conversations Want to know the secret to better conversations? Slow. Down. Instead of launching into a lengthy explanation or defense, try keeping your responses to just 20 words or […]
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