Today’s Mandala Message: Be Patient When 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 the idea of being patient while listening to others.
From an article posted on VeryWellMind.com about being patient, they state: “Patience is an important active listening technique because it allows the other person to speak without interruption. It also gives them the time to say what they are thinking without having you try to finish their sentences for them. Being patient involves not trying to fill periods of silence with your own thoughts or stories. It also requires listening to understand, not to respond. That is, don’t prepare a reply while the other person is still speaking. Also, don’t change the subject too abruptly as this conveys boredom and impatience.”
Being patient while listening to others is probably my biggest challenge when it comes to listening. One person I know, when recounting something that happened to them, wants to be dramatic about it and drags the story out…it makes me want to scream “GET TO THE POINT!” … but I don’t…at least not out loud. Thinking back on the lunch I had with my friend this afternoon, at least three times I finished their sentences. I realize now that that’s another case of needing to be present so that I stop myself from doing that in the future and focus more on being present and patient.
A good mindfulness practice would be to practice listening with a patient ear.
So how about you? Do you get impatient when listening to others? Do you tend to finish other people’s sentences as a way to hurry them up? Do you tend to prepare your reply to others before they’ve even finished what they’re saying?
“Patience
— Joyce Meyer
is not simply
the ability to wait –
it’s how we behave
while we’re waiting.
Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas
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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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