Compassion #3
What if one word could change your mind? What if your whole posture toward a person, a job, or a task could be improved by adopting a new key word that resets your expectations?
Try this. Tap the brakes on the rumble of thoughts between your ears, and listen. Really listen.
For better relationships with people you love, listen to what they are saying, but listen beneath the surface to what might be driving these thoughts. You will soon be filled with compassion, fascination, and at least better appreciation.
For your soul, listen. Pause the constant thought formulation, and listen to the sounds of the crickets, the wind, the gurgle of water from a fountain. Listen to the birds or the even the sounds of buses and garbage trucks and traffic as the world wakes up and gets going for another day. Reflect on what you hear almost as if you are looking down upon yourself from high above the world.
For improved work relations, listen. Even in fast paced offices or job sites, there are times to listen. Problem solvers will always find work, and they begin by listening to the presenting issue that soon reveals the underlying issues to be resolved. Your co-workers appreciate being heard rather than one-upped, and employees will thrive under a leader who listens before taking action about their concerns.
One word could make the difference for you today. Listen.
Worth Repeating
When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.
-Ernest Hemingway
