1-1-1: the simplicity of connection
read about how to improve your communication skills and the joy of doing nothing. this edition has a lot of resources!
july, 2023
edition 24.
hello helloooo newsletter family <3 I am always filled with so much gratitude when I write these. thank you for being here and reading my words and engaging with the things I put out on the internet; it feels absolutely surreal to have people like you backing me!!
I’m just about to start my month-long summer travels but rest assured that the 1-1-1 newsletter will be coming out every tuesday! I can’t wait to update you about where I’m writing from in this short little section of the newsletter :) obvi more current updates will be on my instagram @katie.eu if you’re interested and want to follow along there! if not, I’ll see ya on tuesdays!
you can expect one email from me every week containing:
one quote that has been inspiring me
one journal prompt
one piece of advice*
* = if you want to submit a question for my upcoming emails, you can find the form here.
announcements
as you know, I’m going to start my masters program in the fall. I’m preparing for my move with new stationery and I’m sooo excited about my new goodies from Papier! For me, cute stationary = more motivation to study = better grades.
click here to shop Papier’s new academic year planners – I have the wonder planner – and use code KATIEEU15 for 15% off! let me know which one you choose (and let me know if we’ll match!) <3
podcast
titled ‘limiting beliefs,’ this week is a short episode about …liming beliefs. both mine and yours! — listen to this week’s episode here <3
one quote
“you may fear the quiet times in your life, when your soul goes through a winter. however, it’s often those same times when the most profound and human work of all is being done.
be still.
do nothing.
it is both the quiet and the sound that writes the symphony, the blank canvas and the paint that makes the picture, the rest and the movement that gives you the wisdom, insight, and clarity to press forward more boldly than ever before.”
—brianna wiest
one journal prompt
what made you happy today?
one piece of advice
“hi! I was wondering if there’s any tips to be good in communication? I’m always in lack of vocabulary and it sucks to be looked down by others”
ah, do I have good news for you! in full transparency, I’ve been scrolling past this question for weeks (sorry!) thinking that I need to make a full ‘how to’ post about this — so I finally did.
while it’s by no means comprehensive (I think it would be impossible), you can find some of my tips on developing emotional intelligence here! I also collaborated with my sister on how to have difficult conversations, which includes specific language/sentence starters (find that here).
but it would be soooo lame if I just said “go check out my instagram post, okay bye” so I’ll include some tips here too that are more communication-focused!
if you’re looking for vocabulary: see the two posts I’ve linked above which include language that I normally use in conversations! plus my sister has her masters in clinical psychology so she definitely knows more than me in that area. I would also suggest reading books on communication and emotional intelligence tailored to the subject you’re interested in. some books I’ve personally read and would recommend:
waking the tiger by peter a. levine (trauma)
the body keeps the score by bessel van der kolk (SA)
difficult conversations: how to discuss what matters most by douglas stone *I didn’t personally read this but I know my sister used it to write the how to post
I thought it was just me (but it isn’t) by brené brown (shame, emotions)
boundaries by dr. henry cloud and dr. john townsend (difficult conversations, boundaries)
basically I’m deferring 1000% of this question of understanding how to navigate conversations and gain vocabulary to communicate your emotions to the professionals (which I am not!)
if you’re looking for interpersonal communication skills: i.e. tone of voice, approaching the conversation, etc, I would honestly just try to have more difficult conversations. by difficult, I don’t mean ““hard”” conversations about touchy subjects. i mean any conversation that requires both parties to be a little more vulnerable than they would normally be — ones that prioritize connection. here are two question-based games that I like:
the game we’re not really strangers
the new york times’ 35 questions to fall in love
if you feel comfortable, I would suggest asking for feedback. ew, weird! kind of? but hey, I can’t even begin to explain how much this concept of feedback has changed my life. it doesn’t have to be a questionnaire that you fill out in some random borrowed pencil after a semester with the weirdest professor ever, it can be normal. in fact, this is a call to make feedback normal in communication!!!
talk openly and candidly about what made you comfortable, uncomfortable, what they can improve with, things you enjoyed, etc. it can literally be as simple as saying “I really appreciate it when you used the phrase ‘I hear you’ or when you nod your head as I speak”
woooooo who better to let you know how you can improve your verbal and non-verbal cues than the person you literally just had a hard conversation with?!
this is getting a bit long so I’ll stop there (you know that if you give me free rein, I will continue to type forever) but I hope this answered the question <3 p.s. if you’re wondering where this unhinged typing personally came from, I blame threads
reading updates
currently reading: the seven habits of highly effective people by stephen r. covey, beach read by emily henry
finished this week:
the titan’s curse by rick riordan
the battle of the labyrinth by rick riordan
red, white, and royal blue by casey mcquiston
the last olympian by rick riordan
if you want to keep up with my reading throughout the week, this is my goodreads :)
enjoyed this edition?
until we meet again,
katie
it’s the way i LITERALLY forgot to update the podcast section. anyways pod is about limiting beliefs and u should defos check it out
Hey Katie!! I missed reading your newsletters. I know it’s hard to be vulnerable when you feel like you should have everything together, I feel that way all the time and you make me feel safe and heard. Thank you so much. On a random note I wanted to ask how you consistently read because I struggle with reading especially during a difficult semester of school.