Today’s Mandala Message: Embrace Active Listening
This week I’m working through Principle #48 from Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles” entitled “Be Hear Now”. I set my intention today to ponder how I listen to or hear others. Canfield states: “In the news reporting industry, journalists are trained in the art of active listening—an interview technique in which reporters listen and understand so well, they’re able to ask intelligent, more in-depth questions about the information being delivered. …[It] also helps insure accuracy and fairness.”
From Arlin Cuncic M.A. on VeryWellMind.com about “Active Listening” he offers these techniques of active listening:
- Being fully present in the conversation
- Showing interest by practicing good eye contact
- Noticing (and using) non-verbal cues
- Asking open-ended questions to encourage further responses
- Paraphrasing and reflecting back what has been said
- Listening to understand rather than to respond
- Withholding judgment and advice
I admit that I need and want to be a better listener. I catch myself waiting for the other person to stop talking so I to talk about what I want to talk about…which means I’m not really listening to this other person…I’m waiting to talk. This week we’ll be delving more into ways of being better listeners.
A good mindfulness practice would be to notice how well you truly listen to what others are saying.
So how about you? Are you a ‘waiting to talk’ type listener or do you listen to understand what’s being said/shared? Do you want to be a better listener? From the list above what one technique are you open to testing out this week?
“One of the most
— Bryant H. McGill
sincere forms of respect
is actually listening
to what another
has to say.”
Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.
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