Some weeks stretch us more than others don’t they! Recently, life has delivered everything at once: the loss of a dear friend, my father suffering a serious accident and becoming very unwell, my own minor operation, and – just to top it off – a fairly spectacular disaster at a property I own in the UK.
Individually, each event would have been manageable. Together, they’ve created a kind of overwhelm that makes even the simplest task feel heavier than it should.
And yet, in the midst of all this, one theme continues to surface: communication.
Last time, we explored what it means to move beyond the echo chamber –
- to understand rather than convert.
- to engage rather than retreat.
- to cultivate regenerative dialogue across deep divides.
If you missed it, you can catch up here
This week, I’m noticing how those same communication principles apply not only to societal and political rifts, but also to the way we navigate personal turbulence.
When life is heavy, communication becomes both harder and more important.
When we’re under pressure or grieving or simply exhausted, our capacity to communicate with clarity, empathy, and patience often shrinks. We may become shorter with others, retreat into ourselves, or feel too depleted to explain what’s going on. Equally, those around us may not immediately understand the weight we’re carrying.
But it’s during these moments of strain that communication can become quietly transformative.
Bridging Divides Inside Ourselves
The “deep divide” isn’t always out there – across the table, across social media, or across ideologies. Sometimes the divide is internal: between what we feel and what we can express, between what we need and what we think we should be able to cope with.
Last week, I spoke about listening to understand, not to reply.
This week, I’d like to explore how his also applies to listening to ourselves.
- What am I feeling beneath the surface?
- What do I actually need?
- Where can I show myself a little of the same compassion and curiosity that I extend to others?
This internal listening helps us to communicate more authentically with those around us – whether that’s asking for support, setting boundaries, or simply saying, “I’m not at my best right now.”
How Overwhelm Shapes Our Communication
Stress can create its own kind of echo chamber. When we’re overwhelmed, we might hear our own worries on repeat, narrowing our perspective and limiting our ability to connect. It becomes harder to see nuance or appreciate where others are coming from.
In these moments, the strategies we explored last week are surprisingly grounding:
- Slowing down enough to listen – to ourselves and to others
- Understanding the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’
- Finding shared humanity, even in brief interactions
- Practising humility, especially when we’re tempted to snap or assume.
- Choosing dialogue over defensiveness
- Knowing when to step away, not in avoidance, rather in self-preservation.
These aren’t just techniques for navigating political polarisation; they are tools for navigating the complex, messy, very human experience of carrying too much at once.
The Regenerative Power of Honest Connection
When life feels overwhelming, small moments of genuine communication become regenerative:
- a friend who listens without rushing to fix
- a colleague who shows understanding
- a family member who simply says, “Tell me how things really are.”
While these conversations may not change the circumstances, they soften the experience. They remind us that we don’t have to hold on to everything alone.
And paradoxically, being open about our vulnerability often encourages others to share theirs. In that exchange, divides shrink, understanding grows, and what felt isolating becomes shared.
In all of this, a quiet reminder…
Communication isn’t only a skill for navigating external conflict; it is a lifeline in times of personal challenge.
As Tony Robbins reminds us:
“To effectively communicate, we must realise that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.”
This includes understanding how we ourselves perceive the world when we’re hurting, tired, or stretched thin.
So, as I move through this particularly difficult chapter, I’m holding onto the principles we explored last week – not by any means perfectly – intentionally.
To listen.
To pause.
To communicate openly.
To recognise when I need space.
And above all, to remain connected, even when life feels a little too much.
“Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the ‘hero’ within us is revealed.”
– Bob Riley –
[Riley had to translate his entrepreneurial experience into effective public governance as Governor of Alabama, overseeing large industrial negotiations, large-scale economic development projects and he survived a serious motorcycle crash in Alaska sustaining significant injuries]
How do you communicate during challenging times?
I’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, or strategies below.
With warmest wishes,
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
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Just as seeds have the potential to grow into something much bigger than they first appear, what we say and how we say it can carry hidden power. In contrast, a single phrase – encouraging or careless – can take root in someone’s heart and shape the way they grow. [Image by Abubaker Ahsan].
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