Daily Temperature Reading

It might not be new news to you but, communication is important. Although this might not be a new nugget of wisdom is it something that many of us know, yet struggle to practice. Communication can awkward to practice without a framework, enter the Daily Temperature Reading. This is a structured conversation that is intended to be done daily, but can be used as often as realistically possible for anyone you are trying to increase you communication skills with; be it spouse, partner, friend, colleague or enemy.

THE DAILY TEMPERATURE READING

How we talk and listen to each other is a very important factor in how we feel about ourselves.

Everything that you would like to say to people can be fitted into one of the headings of the Daily Temperature Reading.

When you become used to using the temperature reading on a daily basis, you will be;

  • avoiding storing up resentments by leaving feelings unexpressed

  • feeling better about yourself and hence about your relationship

  • helping your partner to feel better by being more heard

  • helping your partner to see more of whom you are and, what you like and what you do not like

    INSTRUCTIONS

    - Start as many of your sentences as you can with ‘I ...’.

    - Begin by arranging a time that suits you both, making sure that neither of you is compromising yourselves in a way that could end up with you feeling squeezed for time.

    - Sit comfortably when you meet and close enough to easily and comfortably reach out and touch each other.

    - Each person has a chance to share in each section and the other listens without interrupting, be- fore moving to the next section.

    -Like anything new, it will feel clumsy and awkward to start with and rather false and unnatural. It will take time to find you can adapt to your own more familiar language but as it grows as a habit you will find it enormously helpful.

    1. APPRECIATIONS

    I really liked it when... Thank you for....

    I am proud of...

    2. NEW INFORMATION

    I want to tell you about...

    I heard today that...

    I would like to remind you that...

    3. WORRIES, PUZZLES & CONFUSIONS

    I don’t understand...

    I can’t find...

    (These require a response unlike the other sections)

    4. COMPLAINTS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS

    I don’t like it when...I would like to change this by...

    I hate it ... I would rather that...

    5. HOPES, WISHES AND DREAMS

    I would love to...

    I really wish that...

    My dream is..

    Adapted by Handout developed by Jonathan Hooker Psychotherapist 

    -TM

Tyler March