Have you ever been left on read and wondered what went wrong?
In the age of instant messages, disappearing Snaps and read receipts, communication has never been more confusing.
There is a pretty good chance you have heard the saying, “communication is key,” and it is true. Whether you are at work, in school, with family, friends or in a relationship, knowing how to communicate effectively is essential. But with everyone saying how important it is, nobody talks about how to actually do it, especially now when most of our conversations are through the screen.
Communication has evolved vastly in the past decade. Normal face-to-face conversations are limited compared to the ones we share online. There are endless ways to communicate. We FaceTime instead of meeting up. We send Snaps or direct messages instead of having real-time conversations.
We have learned to say less with our words and more with emojis, abbreviations or even complete silence. While yes, it is fast, convenient and works well, online communication creates a whole set of new challenges, and one of the biggest is being ghosted.
Ghosting refers to the sudden end of communication without explanation. No goodbye, no closure, just radio silence.
In this age of digital communication, if you have never been ghosted, consider yourself lucky. Chances are, though, that you have experienced it or even done the ghosting.
Ghosting is not just someone disappearing, it is a symptom of how uncomfortable we have become with confrontation. Yes, it is extremely difficult to tell someone face to face we are not interested in them; however, we hurt others more by disappearing in silence. It has become so simple to disappear behind a screen and avoid necessary real life interactions.
With this, understanding how to navigate this new communication landscape is essential for maintaining meaningful connections and fostering healthy relationships. So, the big question is, how do you become a good communicator in the age of ghosting?
Whether online or face-to-face, the best thing you can do is be honest. I know, it is way easier said than done. It is a big risk to take and requires a lot of vulnerability. It means saying things to people that they don’t want to hear. This is the foundation of being a strong communicator.
The No. 1 reason people turn to ghosting is because they want to avoid honesty. Instead of facing an awkward or difficult conversation, they choose silence because it feels easier in the moment, but easy is not always right.
While yes, it is always important to tell others the truth and not lead people on, why does this actually matter in the long run?
Communication is everywhere, in how we work, love, argue, forgive and live. The more we practice honest, intentional communication now, the more prepared we will be to handle what comes next, on or offline.
Every time you avoid a conversation, you are not just dodging a moment, you are missing an opportunity to grow. The more you hide from difficult conversations now the less equipped you will be when life demands them. Eventually, there will not be an option to ghost your way out.
In a world where silence is the default response, speaking up is a powerful thing. It shows you have vulnerability, courage and respect. So, next time you are tempted to ghost, choose communication instead.
