Move Away From the Edge

"Where are all the boys?"

He was surprised he was the only male in the room.

Frank Roby, CEO and Chairman of Consero Global spoke to SMU students about communication in relationships and businesses. The topic surrounded communication and understanding one another during a conversation. He opened the lecture with very insightful advice for near-future graduates and long-term advice regarding beneficial communication.

"When you think of everything you can do with your life, it can be confusing," said Roby. Roby explained how questioned his next step after college, he addressed the common thoughts of most college students.

"What's next? Will it matter to anyone? Can I do something that matters, but make a living?,"said Roby.

These are all questions that affect college graduates, especially myself. How do you know what you want to do? What about what you should do?

For me, curiosity is something I have to have because I have so many interests. I have 3 main passions; health research and diagnoses, the environment/pollution prevention and workers' rights/social justice. However, I also love art. I have had a passion for dance and singing ever since I was young. I have so many interests and I tend to try to tackle them all.

I currently play soccer and softball while taking voice lessons. I finished my first research study this semester, along with taking 18 hours, two internships and interviewing for full time positions for after I graduate May 14th of this year. Though I have held several jobs and 4 internships just my senior year, I still am having a difficult time deciding what I want to do for a career, even though I have been exposed to many different industries.

After graduation, I will be working in Epidemiology and research in Dallas. I also have several ideas on how to implement "green technologies" into businesses, so I will also be conducting research in that area and issuing a patent search on a possible new application/business software.

However, Roby offered a piece of useful information for my case.

"You cannot receive a message whenever you are focused on another conversation," said Roby. This is where I must caution. Sometimes tackling too many projects, you can miss what is right in front of you. Most importantly you have to listen to your heart and do what is unique to you.

There is a concept in Yoga that concludes that when the mind and body are not in sync with one another, the soul is suppressed. Therefore, when an individual is overwhelmed with stress, projects and many assignments, their clarity is clouded.

I believe Roby's advice on communication is very applicable to our own personal communication as well. How do we know what our lives are meant to accomplish if we do not listen to our own opportunities? There is communication we hear inside us, but seldom do we listen. Sometimes, life can become so chaotic, we tend to move closer to the edge and further away from our own contentment. If we move closer to the center to balance our wants and needs, we become more synchronized and aware of our own conscience by reducing our dissonance.

We first have to communicate with ourselves before we communicate with others.