I was working on some writing the other day and a piece of it landed me thinking about being prepared or asking the question ‘Are you ready?’
Every day we take in information - every single one of our senses is bombarded with information from when we jump out of bed until we fall back asleep. According to one study out of the University of California, the average American consumes about 34 gigabytes of data daily.
Do you know how much that is? It’s slightly more than reading all of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit every day. Do you have time for that? I sure don’t. I have to assume not only does that mean reading it, but we’ve got to consider how much of that we need to process and comprehend. My to-do list is FULL and I can’t be reading The Hobbit every day and expected to comprehend, can I?
You see what I came to realize while working on this project is that comprehension is key - but it’s not just the one on the receiving end that it’s key for.
For instance, if the U of CA report is correct it said average American - that means your middle schooler is reading The Hobbit. The 3rd grader who is just concerned about recess is reading The Hobbit. That Jr. in High School who is struggling to figure out how to answer the question “What do you want to do after high school?” is reading The Hobbit. Your spouse, neighbor, co-worker, ever educator, politician, fellow commuter on the road, all of us are reading The Hobbit - DAILY!
The communicator and the one being bombarded with 34 gigabytes of information both carry a level of responsibility when it comes to what is comprehended. If I’m to deliver a message - to my family, fellow volunteers, clients, or co-workers I have to make sure I’ve invested the time to Be Ready to communicate as clearly as possible. I’ve got to have my goals in mind, and put in the time to make sure I’m delivering the best message possible.
When the roles are reversed if someone - my kid, a client, someone I work with, or a clerk at the store - is trying to communicate with me, I must intentionally be ready to receive their communication so I can have the best possible shot at comprehending their intended deliverables.
What does this all mean for us when it comes to youth impact, or just living in general? I’m glad you asked. I think there is a lot of depth to it, but I’d suggest this month we try two simple things to improve comprehension. First, we must commit to trying - to being present and prepared. Say it with me; “I’m going to be intentional in my comprehension!”
Finally, let’s lean in and really listen. When we intentionally remove distractions - like we’re committing ourselves to in the Youth Impact Monthly Challenge this month - like technology, we can be more present, listen to hear, comprehend, and then respond. If we take these two small steps I think it will help us all.
Let me know what you think.
Make it a great day,
Chris
P.S. If I can help you in this part or any of your growth journey, I'd love to set up a Complimentary Discovery Session with you today.