The document outlines 5 levels of communication, from superficial to deeply personal. Level 1 involves cliché conversations with no personal sharing. Level 2 is reporting facts about others without sharing personal views. Level 3 involves sharing ideas and judgements while still being cautious. Level 4 is sharing feelings and emotions. Level 5, the deepest level, requires complete openness and honesty, though it carries the risk of rejection.

1. Levels of Communication Why am I afraid to tell you who I am?

2. Level 1: Cliché Conversation This type of talk is very safe. We use phrases such as the above. In this type of conversation there is no personal sharing. Each person remains safety behind his / her defenses

3. Level 2: Reporting the facts about Others This kind of conversation we are content to tell others what someone else has said, but we offer no personal information on these facts. We report the facts like the 6 o’ clock news. We share gossip and little narrations but we do not commit ourselves as to how we feel about it.

4. Level 3: My Ideas and Judgments Real communication begins to unfold here. The person is willing to step out of his confinement and risk telling someone of his ideas and decisions. He/she is still cautious. If he/she senses that what he is saying is not being accepted, he/she will retreat.

5. Level 4: My Feelings or Emotions At this level the person shares how he/she feels about facts, ideas and judgments. His/her feelings underneath these areas are revealed. For a person to really share himself /herself with another individual he/she must move to the level of sharing his/ her feelings.

6. Level 5:Complete Emotional & Personal Communication All deep relationships must be based in absolute openness and honesty. This may be difficult to achieve because it involves risk – the risk of being rejected. But it is vital if relationships are to grow. There will be times when this type of communication is not as a complete as it could be.

7. … End … Roanne .E. Naidoo