I think we are just genetically disposed to it!

I spent the day with a friend this week and all we did was shop and talk… sip coffee and talk… shop and talk some more… and, then, we ate dinner and… yep, you guessed it, talked some more!

But, here may be a shocker…

…even after I just described my day of eating, shopping, and talking, deep down I am not a woman who enjoys talking!

I am a woman who enjoys conversation, and there is a difference.

If we don’t pay attention, in all our talking, we can simply exercise our power of speech, but miss the power of conversation.

Just plain talking is draining, but conversation can breathe life into you. A life-giving conversation includes questions and answers; talking and listening; confusion and clarity; laughter and tears; and, believe it or not, even a little silence.

Conversation is not a monologue or a spectator sport.

And, it’s not a mindless deluge of words cascading from our lips drowning the other person!

It’s an exchange of interest with words as the currency. We ask pointed questions to each other and, then, willingly talk about ourselves and our views too.

One of my most memorable conversations I have had with a friend included a very interesting question that I used in conversation again this week… Years ago, my friend Lisa asked me to use one adjective and one noun to describe myself currently and, then, one adjective and one noun to describe my ideal self.

So, I pulled out that same question this week and asked my shopping, eating, and coffee sipping buddy. I, of course, won’t tell you what she said, but I can tell you how I answered.

The words I chose to represent me right now are: “content learner.” And, as I thought out loud with her about my ideal self, I went back and forth between “peaceful lover” and “curious rester.”

So, what about you?

What adjective and noun best capture you right now?

Which adjective and noun best represent your ideal self?

If you don’t have a friend to talk about this with, consider beginning by honestly having the conversation with yourself!

And, I would just love it if you left the two words that currently describe you and the two words that describe your ideal self in the comments below.

I think we can all learn a lot from each other, don’t you?

Let’s be women of quality conversations, not just women of many words.

We all need to guard ourselves against the tendency to give self-centered monologues. They can actually reveal more about us than we realize. They can show our unwillingness to actually disclose ourselves in conversation to a friend.

“Talking much about oneself can also be a means to conceal oneself.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

Paul, the apostle who used lots of words, and I mean, lots of words, encouraged us by saying, “Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right response for everyone.” (Colossians 4:6 NLT)

One of my goals this New Year is to be a woman of gracious and effective conversation, not just a gabby gal of many mindless words!!

Question: Which two words best describe you right now and which two words best represent your ideal self?