Marie

Howie Mandel – Bell Let’s Talk

“First and foremost, we’re all human and we all have an inner dialogue that we don’t always
share.”
I totally agree with this. Whenever I am out of my comfort zone, I have always perceived
that there are two worlds within the world: my world and the outside world (the environment).
This is because the inner dialogue that I have does not conform to the standards of the outside
world that I live in. For example, in my inner dialogue, I am able to express myself; it has been
my coping mechanism. For example, when something happens significant in the outside world,
for example a conflict between a workmate. As someone who does not know how to argue and
defend myself, I usually just remain quiet during the argument or I accidentally say something
that I should not have said. I just said something even when I didn’t even to say it, and then
after saying it, it was only then will I realized that I shouldn’t have said what I said. I then
unintentionally recreate the scene in my world, where I then say all the things that my mind
wants to say during the argument but did not get to say because my mouth just spoke out
without considering the thoughts my mind made. I recreate the scene several times that inner
dialogues between myself and I has been established.
I again agree with this statement, but in a different situation. As a troubled teenager, I
experience personal difficulties that challenges my strength and the little belief I have in myself.
In my inner dialogue, I criticize myself, to the extent that I already question my existence.
However, because I fear judgement and I am scared of getting embarrassed, I never share these
inner dialogue to anyone because I already look weak and unworthy in other people, and I do
not want to make their perceptions on me worst by revealing my inner struggles to them.

“Use any word you need to talk.” What word would you use to start a conversation and why?
If I have the courage to start a conversation, I think the word that I would say is, “Hi.”
Firstly saying, “hi,” is the initiative of a conversation and perhaps friendship. Every
conversation, unless a professional one, begins with a ‘hi.’ I think it’s because it is a greeting
that sets up the mood of the conversation. Saying ‘hi’ will give that person who receives the
greeting a sense of what the other person’s intention is of trying to start a conversation. Let’s
say that there are two individuals; when individual A starts a conversation with individual B
with a nice ‘hi,’ individual A will have a sense that individual B wants to talk to them and
perhaps be friends with them.
However, if I were to do/say whatever I want when initiating a conversation with
someone, I would probably begin it with a warm smile. Firstly, a smile will give the other person
a sense that I am nice and friendly and that I have no intention of putting the other person into
harm or danger. Secondly, when I give a warm smile to a person and I received a warm smile
back, it gives me that understanding that that person will be comfortable having a conversation
with me. Lastly but most importantly, giving a warm smile to a stranger can help them a lot by
brightening their day. It happened many times already where when I went to work with a bad
mood. My bad mood is furthermore worsened because of work. I was in a really bad mood
because of what has happening in my school and personal life. My bad mood was further
deepened because I had to do put thrice the effort that I put at work because none of my
coworkers are cooperating and doing what their supposed to do. Being someone who was new
and shy, I just had to do what must be done as talking to them would not only waste my time,
but it would also put me in a situation I am uncomfortable with. I am already struggling trying
to balance my school, personal, and work life, and it felt like no one was cooperating and it felt
like everyone wants to make my situation worst. One time, I was walking around the store that
I work in to go to the back to get something for the task I have to do. While walking, I passed by
an associate from a different department, who likewise also had the exhausted face. We had an
eye-to-eye contact and she smiled at me warmly, as if she is telling me that she understands
what I am going through and assuring me that everything will be fine. From that moment, I
have already understood what a simple smile can do and how it can change everything in
someone. Therefore, if I were to start a conversation with someone, I would begin by giving a
warm smile to that person, followed by a friendly hello!