step one: listen up

“Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine desire to be with another which both attracts and heals.”Sura Hart, Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids: 7 Keys to Turn Family Conflict into Cooperation

 

I don’t know exactly where I would classify this one because it fits in sooooooo many places. I think it has to be the most under valued quality in a person and the most important gift we can offer another.

 

Generations ago, people sat around a table or a living room and conversed. That means one person talked and the rest listened. then one person replied and the rest listened. There was a culture where we did not interrupt or speak over someone loudly. When we listened, we really listened. I have a parenting book in my library called “The Discipline Book” and very compelling is the subtitle: “How to talk so children will listen and listen so children will talk.” Even if you never open the book what is on the front cover gives you tools to help you succeed in most of your relationships. How we say what we say and how we listen to others will determine, for the most part, what we can expect from our relationships. I have someone in my entourage that is always saying, “You never listen!” to everyone. The real irony is how little this person listens to others and even to himself that he does not notice how inconsistent he can be in a single sentence.

 

Let’s allow ourselves to learn from that guy. This week’s task: listen to yourself speak. Notice what you say, the words you choose and how you feel while you are speaking. No need to change anything. Just listen and notice. You can comment and share your findings is you wish. 

 

Namaste!

Bianca

 

This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!

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