34. Conscious Defending from Gaslighting
With the devastating war occurring in Ukraine, host Alejandra Siroka reflects on the power of language. Although language has the power to heal, it can also lead us to our destruction. With this in mind, Alejandra explores the darker side of speech: gaslighting.
Often in unequal relationships, the person with more power uses gaslighting to manipulate others. By causing the other person to doubt their experience or dismiss their feelings, the manipulator can make them feel more vulnerable or dependent. To combat this toxic dynamic, Alejandra lays out the key signs of gaslighting and reminds her audience to always assert their truth.
Tune into this week’s episode of the Language Alchemy Podcast for a straightforward conversation on gaslighting. Learn more about psychological manipulation, how false political narratives mislead us into war, and the communication tools needed to combat gaslighting in relationships.
Quotes
• “It's important to remember that language has the power to heal and the power to destroy. Language has the power to bring us to war.” (1:08 - 1:21)
• “Gaslighting doesn't just happen in movies. It can happen in any relationship.” (4:47 - 4:53)
• “Gaslighting is lying to obtain an advantage to oneself while misleading the other person so that they question what they experienced as true.” (7:15 - 7:26)
• “Gaslighting tends to happen in relationships where there's a power imbalance. The person who does the gaslighting has a perceived position of power, and they see the other as vulnerable or fearful.” (7:45 - 8:01)
• “You need to have the transformative communication tools to engage in conscious defense if you are in a relationship in which there is gaslighting. To engage in conscious defense, you need to assert yourself.” ( 12:31 - 12:47)
• “May you be aware of the power of your language, and may you choose to communicate in ways that bring forth peace and healing.” (15:23 -15:32)
Links
To ask your communication questions, click here:
www.languagealchemy.com/podcastquestion
To join the mailing list, visit: www.languagealchemy.com
Podcast Music composed by Gary Lapow:
www.open.spotify.com/artist/1HlMhcNfKIELxYil5mVqDI
