Phrase #2: "I want..."

I didn't do so great using "Hearing you say that, I feel..." last week. I'll keep trying to remember to use that phrase, while continuing on to Chapter 2: "I want...."

Examples from the top of the chapter:

- "I want to hear your feelings about what I'm saying."

- "I want to have a talk with you about something I've had on my mind."

- "I want to feel your arms around me."

- "I want you to come with me to the store."

- "I want you to just listen and not say anything until I'm finished."

I've only just started the chapter, but I was struck by this sentence in the first paragraph:

"If you'd like more intimacy in your life, it's good to express your wants frequently and shamelessly."

Go!

One phrase a week from _Saying What's Real_

I'm a big fan of Susan Campbell's book, _Getting Real_. Now I'm reading her followup, _Saying What's Real_. I don't expect to like it as much - it's a bit more formulaic whereas its predecessor talks about underlying principles - but I expect it will still be valuable.

In this book she devotes a chapter each to 7 key phrases which are supposed to aid in authentic, present-focused communication. In order to better internalize some of these ideas, I would like to spend a week on each chapter, making a conscious effort to find opportunities to use that chapter's key phrase.

This week's phrase is "hearing you say that, I feel...".

Examples from the book:

"Hearing you say that, I feel relieved."

"Hearing you say that, I feel hurt."

"Hearing you say you want me to come over tonight, I'm feeling afraid to disappoint you."

"Hearing you say you felt neglected, I'm thinking, 'I wish I'd been there when you got home from the emergency room.'"

A week from now, I'll move on to the next chapter / key phrase.

Anybody want to try this experiment with me?