Teaching through Emotions

Teaching through Emotions

Being Better

Valentine's Day Advent: Day 8

In which I unpack a common barrier to productive communication

Betsy Burris's avatar
Betsy Burris
Feb 11, 2026
∙ Paid
white and red love print box
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash

Oh, how I hate it when someone says to me, “Don’t be so defensive!” It shuts everything down. Well, I’m here to tell you how defensiveness can actually open up communication that leads to mutual understanding.

Huzzah!!

As always, I’m going to exhort you to take the TTE survey. (If you haven’t already.) Hearing from you makes us feel like we’re landing somewhere and not just floating in the ether. How is that landing? Let us know! (And maybe win an excellent TTE Tee or mug!)

Take the survey

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