For Immediate Release – Announcing Faculty Book Publication
Contact: Paula Blankenship, Public Affairs Office, 928-634-7501
Dr. Karly Way, Liberal Arts Faculty, 928-225-9636, or e-mail at Karly.Way@yc.edu
Interpersonal Communication – Bridges: Making Meaningful Connections
By Dr. Karly Way, Yavapai College
Yavapai College faculty member Karly Way, Ph.D. never intended to write a book on interpersonal communication when she began teaching Com 134 Interpersonal Communication several years ago. The process began to unfold as she found herself elaborating on and "correcting" the presentation of many psychological and sociological theories in the communication texts that she was using. (Karly’s Ph.D. is in sociology; her M.A. in psychology, and many of her interpersonal communication students have taken her social science classes.)
One interesting factor driving her book-writing process was that while Dr. Karly (as many of her students call her) was teaching a full-time social science course load at Yavapai College, she was also pursuing a 500-hour certification as a yoga instructor in Phoenix. As she observes, "One informed the other -- the interpersonal communication book actually includes many insights from yoga philosophy."
Such insights include cultivating an awareness of our negative mental habits, perceptions, and counterproductive expectations, as well as the ability to relax with what is. As Karly notes, "However you define the ’difficult people’ in your life, they are just being who they are, so why waste time and mental energy wishing them to be different? It only creates agitation and stress, which is anything but calming. You can’t change people, but you can change your reaction to people and to situations."
Karly also finds that the Zen principle of learning to be "in the moment," instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future is infinitely helpful in communication. "When you’re pseudo-listening – going through the motions of listening, but really focusing on something else -- your conversational partner loses out and you do as well." Distracted listening and multi-tasking create a "scattered" state of mind, generating stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. By contrast, being mindful in communication and truly listening, affirming and validating your partner is not only is a gift for them, but studies conclude that it lowers your blood pressure as well!
Way/2
There is an art and flow to resolving conflicts in interpersonal communication. Erroneous perceptions and snap judgments fuel many stereotypes and inhibit our abilities to see people for who they really are. The principle of self-study from yoga is essential in understanding how you contributed the problem, admitting when you are wrong, practicing forgiveness, and stepping up to resolve the conflict in a positive direction. While the important tenet from psychology of "connecting the dots" of your story is helpful, Karly says there is a second insight from yoga philosophy that is absolutely essential: cultivating the ability to transcend your story, so it doesn’t remain a daily part of your life, like a worn-out broken record of victimhood, blame and excuses.
Late last year, Karly traveled to Bangalore, India and lived in an ashram for three weeks, pursuing advanced studies in yoga (to read her blog, see www.karlysinindia.blogspot.com). Karly is so passionate about the insights she gained in India about mind-body connections – our unproductive thinking patterns that affect our physical and mental health -- that she is currently working on another book for her Path of Yoga class (PHE 200F), which will be offered online at Yavapai College fall semester. Look for her next book, Follow Your Bliss In: It’s Not Out There, this fall.
In the meantime, Karly will be teaching Com 134 Interpersonal Communication this summer and fall at Yavapai College, www.yc.edu. She is available to speak on any of the above topics or on her book chapters, including: When Everyone Around You Acts Like a 5-Year-Old, Round and Round in Intimate Relationships, And That’s Why They Call it Work, I Already Know Who You Are, and Extending Your Hand.
For further information, to arrange a talk or book signing on Bridges: Making Meaningful Connections (Linus Publications, 2009), contact Karly directly via email or phone.
###
Publisher’s Note: To order books for your event, please contact Nash at Linus Publications, nasht@linusbooks.com or by phone, 1-866-493-4456. |
