Paul Conti

So because I think we can approximate that, we can come kind of close with language, right?

Or we can be so far away from it that we can say the same word and have opposite meanings and have it generate immediate animosity, right?

That we need to be very, very careful with language, with communication, with conversations.

And I've come to understand that much, much more as I've gotten older, both in terms of how hurtful

you know, reckless speeches, which is why I'm horrified by so much of what we see in our political discourse, right?

The slurs, the negativity that's attached to something, to some word, you know, how one can utter something and it can go into another person just into the ear, but then goes through so many parts of the meaning of the brain that that person feels a pervasive sense of shame or beleagueredness, right?

So yes, reckless language absolutely hurts people.

And we see that all the time in ways that I think are just atrocious.

And also how bad miscommunication is.

I mean, I really learned that through a lot of different ways, but in the work as a therapist of like really wanting to make sure that I'm really understanding you and you're really understanding me.

And a lot of work goes into that communication.

I think people, we can get into a rhythm of it and then it happens more easily.

But I think it's like, it's a life and death difference at times, you know, lots of times, right, in the world around us between clear and accurate communication.

And just so I said a word because like, I think you know what I mean or something like that.

Yeah, that's communication.

It's a different communication, but at times more powerful.

So it's not just words.

It's not just words, right?

Because now you're talking about communication as it's body language, it's expressions of empathy, it's movements, it's pauses, right?

The communication process is very, very complicated and deep.