A friend and I run a Women's Circle and one of the agreements is that we don't try to fix, offer advice or respond. We simply listen when someone talks, and acknowledge with a gesture when they're finished. It is one practice I really try hard to maintain outside of the circle (not always successfully though). Thanks for sharing, Barrie!
A great reminder and encourage meant for us all. Listening is a long lost skill for sure. It is something that counseling students are now being taught because the ability has all but gone. This would have been laughed at back in the days of old.
It seems as though it is partly attention span but also the impression that has been created that to 'win in life' it needs to be all 'look at me'. How often are there conversations where one participant isn't listening, they're waiting for a space to say their next thing. Thank you so much for reading, Tracey
Oh my gosh, the sense that people aren't listening - just working out what to say next, is the worst. I became hyer aware of doing it years ago and try hard not to. Practicing listening is exactly that, practice.
I think it is one of the finest things we have to offer in this fast-paced, noisy world. Truly listening. Allowing someone to be truly heard. Yes to practicing!
A friend and I run a Women's Circle and one of the agreements is that we don't try to fix, offer advice or respond. We simply listen when someone talks, and acknowledge with a gesture when they're finished. It is one practice I really try hard to maintain outside of the circle (not always successfully though). Thanks for sharing, Barrie!
That sounds like a really important gathering. What a brilliant way to support one another, Debs
A great reminder and encourage meant for us all. Listening is a long lost skill for sure. It is something that counseling students are now being taught because the ability has all but gone. This would have been laughed at back in the days of old.
It seems as though it is partly attention span but also the impression that has been created that to 'win in life' it needs to be all 'look at me'. How often are there conversations where one participant isn't listening, they're waiting for a space to say their next thing. Thank you so much for reading, Tracey
Oh my gosh, the sense that people aren't listening - just working out what to say next, is the worst. I became hyer aware of doing it years ago and try hard not to. Practicing listening is exactly that, practice.
I think it is one of the finest things we have to offer in this fast-paced, noisy world. Truly listening. Allowing someone to be truly heard. Yes to practicing!
Too many times 😒
This reminds me of a Gandhi quote: “Speak only if it improves upon the silence.”
That's a beautiful quote ... thank you so much for sharing, Priya
How did I miss that? Going back to find it. Thanks Harry
Resonates with my 'listening' note of earlier this week ...
I heard her interview with Rick Rubin. A great example