Our societies have become increasingly diverse and these changes will continue for many years. Emotional communication as the concept may seem popular and understandable, but its application is questionable. It is apparent that there is an escalation in the frequency of some behavioural and emotional problems such as social withdrawal, weakened social relations, patterns of friendships and indifferences. 
My focal point is on how our words as a form of communication both verbally or written can build strong interpersonal relationships or destroy them. I have noted that most of us have considerable maturing to do in this area. 

The intensity of how good or bad our words are can have a lifelong impact. When we are angry, we sometimes use the most touching words to express the wrong that others have done, but is it really necessary? The words we use do not only create tension, they also change the way people react towards us permanently. Words can hurt, it is, therefore, important to assess them before using them. 
There is a strong habit energy that nags us back into the world of distraction and as human beings it is quite normal to be provoked by a certain situation. Our contemporized minds, however, struggle to move away from our daily duality where tension is manifested and in our roles as friends, partners, parents and consumers, we find little time for reflection. 

To succeed in our multicultural society, we need to understand how our words and actions in today’s diverse settings affect our bottom line and we need to maintain and exhibit a positive outlook on diversity. Better communication creates better impressions and removes obstacles in the bonds we form. When communicating our feelings towards others, we should put into consideration components such as age groups, gender groups and lifestyle groups. By doing so, we might be aware of the possible offences against others. 

Being considerate with the type of language you use serves a social purpose because it connects you to other people and the world around you. We can also reduce violence once we become aware of the appropriate language to use in an emotionally stable manner. Emotional communication is thus a powerful response that needs to be optimized. 

We should learn to seek full and open sharing of information and be prepared to hear about problems and not only good news. This can be done by understanding our own emotions first and express them in a way that can be well received by others. When we respond to people, let’s try and place priority in what matters and allow the rest to pass. 

The way we respond to others today models how the younger generation will respond to the energies of social situations. It is for this reason that social communication skills should be encouraged through simple conversations in our social settings. 
My desire and hope are for our communities to realize a need for a new understanding of the logic of our words, listen to others with intent and politely answer the next person. I am calling for a living meditation. 

Saara Meke Amakali is an Industrial Psychology and Sociology graduate. Email her at saaraamakali@gmail.com