How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching With Meta Communication | Page 85

4. Share Personal Feelings
Only solid friendships survive time to enter the fourth level of communication. After building upon trust, finding
things in common, and listening to the viewpoints and opinions of others, you may be able to (safely) share your
personal feelings.
This is where an acquaintance becomes a genuine friend. You know
that despite having differing opinions and viewpoints you can trust
your friend’s judgment, and that you may even go to them for
advice.
At this level, things of deep value to you can be shared without
feeling threatened. You listen closely to each other without the need
to “solve” your friend’s problem. You are happy to reflect their
feelings back to them – forming a bond of empathy and compassion
between the two of you.
At this level of communication, it is important that you provide a
little distance between yourself and your friend. If the distinction
between yourself and your friend becomes unrecognizable, it is
possible for your relationship to go sour. If you know how to
handle your own feelings, attitudes and behaviors, while
maintaining your friendship at this level, you will build a successful friendship that can last a lifetime.
By using these four levels of communication with prospective dates, and while on dates, you will find that they will
become interested in you, and want to get to know you all the more.

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