You may find yourself feeling suspicious of the motives of others today. Perhaps you are feeling guarded in your discussions with others because you fear being taken advantage of, and you don't want to be persuaded to do something you are not comfortable with. You might also be hesitant to speak your mind about certain issues because you're afraid you will alienate or insult someone. Though these concerns are understandable, you might want to focus instead on creating clear communication in your interactions today. By making an effort to speak your thoughts honestly and gently, you can share your ideas in a way that encourages cooperation from others. Since communication is also about listening, you may want to listen to people with an open mind and be willing to consider their views.

By striving to create clear communication in our interactions with others, we can encourage a positive exchange of ideas, possibilities, and potential solutions to disagreements. Effective communication requires consistent give-and-take between two or more parties. While speaking our thoughts clearly is important, it is equally important to listen to others when they speak. When all parties are committed to communicating collaboratively, together you can gain a greater understanding of the situation, define objectives, and come up with workable plans to achieve goals. Focus on opening the lines of communication with others today, and you will relax your defenses long enough to work together and create positive results.