Well, I sent this photo to some friends and here are a few of the responses:

• Happy

• Sun

• Good Morning

• Happiness

• Growth

• Summer Sunshine

• Dove Field (ranks among the best)

• Sunflower (needed to add, I’m a plant I can’t speak any words you idiot!), and

• Purdy.

It’s simply amazing when you think of all the images that our eyes and mind process every day. Many of these images actually speak to us and some don’t. Think of all the words one image can communicate where not a word is spoken.

Where is the expression/body language …

Rachel and I recently watched Hitched, a 1995 movie (it tells you how up to date our movie watching is!) starring Will Smith. In the movie, he says communication is 60% expression and body language, 30% tone and only 10% verbal. Close your eyes for a minute and think about those percentages. Now think about today’s communications: With texting and emails probably constituting 80% of today’s communication, his calculation of expression and body language means 90% of communication is not utilized … because we’re just using electronic means to talk to one another.

… and where is the tone?

The unfortunate part is that because these two aspects of communications are largely missing, they can become implied. Seriously, have you ever read an email and wondered why the person seemed so uptight, angry, or just uninviting? I’ve even gone back to a previous email I sent to see if I said something that was misinterpreted. The fact is,  that we really don’t know what the person’s tone is because we can’t hear it; personally, I try to create a tone based on words on a sheet of paper (or screen), but not everyone bothers.

Try calling or visiting an old friend and reopen the lines of communications in your life.

I’m not quite sure why I remember this but I do. It was a television commercial from many years ago. It was for United Airlines. A bunch of sales people and executives sitting around a large conference table. The boss is walking around the table handing out airline tickets to everyone seated at the table. He is saying something to the effect, “we are all going to make some personal visits to our clients.” One of the attendees ask the boss, “and where are you going?” He pulls an airline ticket out of his back pocket and says, “I’m going to visit our oldest client.”

Translation: Nothing can replace personal contact.

Modern communications are an amazing thing. One of the things that is funny to me is that I can’t hardly remember a time when we didn’t have cell phones. I don’t know about you, but I have enjoyed some good laughs texting, and some of the jokes that have crossed my desk via email have been great; however, they can’t replace real live human interaction.

Humans need personal interaction.  Now I know there are some fellow introverts out there, but we all need it, albeit maybe in varying amounts. Remember the movie where Tom Hanks gets plane-wrecked on a remote island? An excellent example of what happens when we are removed from any human interaction.

Soulful Quote:

Communications are 60% expression & body language, 30% tone, and only 10% verbal – Will Smith’s character in Hitch (2005)

Song:

“Communication Breakdown” by Led Zepplin

Game Exercise/Life Changer:

Close your eyes and repeat the soulful quote. With your eyes still closed,  ask yourself “how can I bring back the 90% of communications lost in my life?” Meet an old friend or family member for coffee, lunch or maybe even an afterwork beverage this week. Make the time and make the agreement to leave your phones out of the conversations except to show a picture or two. Not only is this a really fun Game Exercise, but can be very rewarding in our pursuits of Happiness!

For more great soulful quotes, songs and game exercises, get a copy of  our book, Don’t Be a Cow! available online from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Independent Books.

And feel free to comment below: What does the SUNFLOWER say to You!