TRI NURAINI

Have you ever felt a meeting unfold so effortlessly, as if the universe had planned it long ago?

That was exactly what I felt on July 23, 2026, when I gathered with the amazing team from Donasi Barang. We shared a space centered around a theme so close to my heart: Beyond Words – connecting hearts, understanding more than just words.

This gathering started from something simple: a decluttering routine at home.

At the time, I was looking for a place that accepted used goods and—unexpectedly—I found Donasi Barang. Long before this day, I had even mentioned their name in my book, I’m Worthy.

My very first visit there left a profound impression. Their warm welcome and sincere dedication to managing unused items so they wouldn’t just end up as trash truly touched my heart.

In that moment, I paused and asked myself, “What can I give back to them?”

The universe answered. That good intention finally found its way through an opportunity to share a little knowledge about communication in this class.

More Than Just a Speaking Class

While typical communication classes focus on how to argue or carefully arrange our words when responding, here we dissected something much more essential: The Power of Presence and The Power of Silence.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou

Through silence, we learn to hold space for others. We practice how to listen without judging, listen completely to the end, and most importantly, listen to truly understand, rather than just preparing an answer (listen to listen, not to respond).

The impact is extraordinary. The messages we receive become so much clearer, and the person speaking feels truly valued and accepted for who they are.

A Moment to Pause and Reflect

Take a deep breath for a moment and ask yourself:

• Do you often feel your voice goes unheard?
• Do you frequently feel misunderstood by those around you?

Perhaps, instead of focusing on why others find it hard to understand us, we can start shifting the perspective. Let’s reflect inward:

How far have we been willing to truly be present and give our complete holding space when others are speaking to us?

Because, as we learned in class, offering our silence to truly listen is one of the most beautiful gifts we can give to someone else.

Communication is an Energy Exchange

One thing that I highlighted in this class is that communication extends far beyond a sequence of words. It’s all ENERGY exchange.

The verbal portion of our communication actually only plays a 35% role, while the remaining 65% is transmitted through non-verbal messages—from body posture, eye contact, and gestures, to facial expressions.

“Your vibes speak louder than your words.” — Gabrielle Bernstein

In the end, connecting hearts and building meaningful connections boils down to one simple thing: Love.

This is about our essence as human beings, and it is a practice of awareness that we can (and need to) apply every single day, with anyone.

Thank you to my friends at Donasi Barang, for allowing me to share this beautiful space.

I’m deeply honored to support your journey.

With love and gratitude,
Tri