Intrapersonal Communication

An area of learning I would really like to focus on is how Intrapersonal Communication is very much a huge part of my practice today especially in the form of self-rejection. Looking at how it has been detrimental to my mental health but also exploring ways I have coped and implemented new practices into this area of learning. 

Intrapersonal communication can be defined as ‘communication with one’s self, and that may include self-talk, acts of imagination and visualization, and even recall and memory’ (McLean, S., 2005). Unlike interpersonal communication where two or more people exchange ideas you are solely relying on yourself for conversation. Intrapersonal communications allow you to learn through and from experience towards gaining new insights of self and/or practice (Boud et al 1985; Boyd and Fales, 1983; Mezirow, 1981, Jarvis, 1992) in other words reflective practice. From planning to problem solving, internal conflict, resolution and evaluations, and judgement of self and others, we communicate with ourselves through intrapersonal communication. All of this interaction takes place in the mind without externilasiation and all of it relies on previous interaction with the external world. Your language and culture have giving you the means to rationalise and act but you are still bound by the expectations of yourself and the others who make up your community.   

 Intrapersonal communication is made up of three key elements 

1.     Self-concept: evaluating ones owns beliefs, values and attitudes and how that evaluation plays into what occurs in the outer world. 

2.     Perception: how people interpret what is going on around them. Perception can influence intrapersonal communication. 

3.     Expectation: expectations are based upon intrapersonal communication with ones own self and are predictions of what will happen based on perceptions of what has happened. 

 

Taking this and looking at my own experiences with intrapersonal communication I am able to pinpoint how I have self-sabotaged myself through the fear of being rejected. For-example not attending auditions after comparing myself to peers/people on web 2.0 platforms and telling myself I wasn’t good enough. Not only did this affect me getting dance jobs but it is something I took into daily tasks like putting creative idea’s forward at work. I was using critical reflection negatively as I was seeing reflection as a ‘constant strive for self improvement’ which ‘lead to feelings of self disapproval and self rejection’ (Quinn 1988/2000).

An experience that I still find challenging is queuing up for an audition. Straight off the bat I find myself comparing what I look like and my talent to the others around me. I was already in my own head before I had even walked through the door. Self-sabotaging and already in a negative mindset. How was I ever going to audition at the best of my ability when I had an ongoing battle in my head? 

Reflecting on audition experiences and rejection I have learnt ways to try and help me stay focused on what I am there to achieve. Instead of looking at the other people in the queue I now ask myself why I am here. I go over what I want from the audition and think of ways to get me there. Like John Dewey’s (1933) theory suggests there are three concepts - I stay open-minded and listen to what the choreographer/casting agent wants. I take responsibility for my actions if something goes wrong or if something goes right and I always stay whole hearted to my practice. Giving it everything I have got, focusing all of my energy on the audition. 

References: 

• McLean, S., 2005 - Intrapersonal communication definition 
• Boud et al 1985; Boyd and Fales, 1983; Mezirow, 1981, Jarvis, 1992 - ideas on reflective practice
• Quinn 1988/2000 
• John Dewey 1933