July 2016 Magazine | Page 63

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SAY, It’s How You Say It! by Sharon Carne D id you ever hear this when you were growing up: “Don’t you use that tone of voice with me!” or “Quit whining!” Every one of us becomes aware of tone of voice from a very early age. Have you ever politely asked someone, “How are you?” and received an answer of “I’m fine!” in a tone of voice that told you immediately that person was not fine? It happens all the time. Try this, just for fun! How many different ways can you say the word oh? Have even more fun and do this with a friend. You will be surpr ised at how many ways such a simple word can be expressed. Human beings are ultra sensitive to the tone of the voice. This tone carries the emotional undercurrent of what is being said. We are masters at noticing and interpreting this emotional undercurrent. Most of the time, we do this unconsciously. But that’s not all. There is a deeper layer to the effect of words and tone of voice that few people are aware of. This deeper layer can be a serious challenge for those who are highly empathic. eydismedia.com 63