Chapter 2

    "The self is an evolving composite of self-awareness, self-concept, and self-esteem... it is actually made up of three distinct yet integrated components that continually evolve over time, based on your life experiences. (Page 32)" Self "is the driving force of your communication." It is the foundation of how you respond, react, and talk. It is how you feel and think, it's your thoughts and emotions. How you grew up, how you feel, your culture, gender, friends, etc. all relate to you and how you express yourself. Expression is key in communication! It is the personal aspect of it. 

    I often find myself communicating in different ways with different people. For example, my friend Cas is someone who is very important to me, and we talk almost every day, but we mainly just text each other and will tell each other stories from our day or class or work. However, with my friend Kash, we will arrange at least one day a month to meet up and chat. We typically go out to lunch or shopping and will tell each other everything that's been happening, but its more specific stories, or the shows we are watching and less like the "everyday life" I can discuss with Cas. I also find that when my self-esteem tanks and I am met with a decline in my mental health I am worse at conveying how I feel and often kind of shut myself out from those around me. I find that I have negative feelings about how I am as a friend and tend to second guess how my friends feel about me as well. 

    How you portray yourself, the culture you grew up in, and presenting you public self are also all mentioned in the chapter. Again, they relate to the circumstances you have been given and the experiences you have had. "Your communication and behavior must be reinforced by objects and events in the surrounding environment—factors over which you have only limited control. (Page 44.)" Our intimacy with people relies on the closeness we feel with others; this is created by our self-disclosure (private information about yourself you give to others) and the responsiveness of the listeners. I know whenever I have tried to talk to new people about personal information and it feel one sided, I shut down and feel embarrassed or ashamed.