Overview
Write a reflective journal (250-500 words) that addresses the prompts below. Your journal should demonstrate your understanding of the concepts discussed in this chapter while connecting them to your own experiences and observations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, face coverings became a common part of everyday life. How did wearing a mask affect your interactions with others?
Did you ever find yourself smiling at someone, only to realize your facial expression was hidden? How did that experience make you feel?
How did the inability to fully see facial expressions affect your ability to interpret or communicate emotions?
What other forms of nonverbal communication (such as eye contact, tone of voice, gestures, posture, or body language) became more important during this time?
Consider individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and rely on facial expressions or lip reading. How might face coverings have affected their communication experiences?
Wearing a face covering also became a visible artifact that others could interpret. What messages do you think wearing (or not wearing) a mask communicated about a person? Were those assumptions always accurate?
Did you receive any comments or reactions from others based on your decision to wear or not wear a mask? If so, how did those experiences reinforce or challenge your own attitudes, beliefs, or sense of self?
Finally, explain how practicing mindfulness can help people navigate misunderstandings, assumptions, and interpersonal differences that arise from nonverbal communication.