AOM Meditation: Listening 121318

this amazing painting is by Lin Jinfu (Jeff Lin)

~*~

When someone is speaking to me

I often catch myself thinking of what I will say

Or judging what they are saying

That's not listening fully

Because my focus is often on me and my thoughts

I want to give my full attention to the person talking to me.

To let them have their say without judging them

I need to show attention

by having appropriate eye contact.

The eyes say more than words can ever express

They are the windows into our souls

Attending to the other person

Shows Respect and Care, Love and Compassion.

It seems like a little thing in the

Pursuit of making a better world

but it is a start

One person at a time

Then watch the ripples of change begin

~AOM

p.s. Some people are more difficult to listen to than others

I'm still working on being there for those folks

Still got work to do

:  )

~*~

“Listening is a gift of spiritual significance that you can learn to give to others. When you listen, you give one a sense of importance, hope and love that he or she may not receive any other way. Through listening, we nurture and validate the feelings one has, especially when he or she experiences difficulties in life.”

~H. Norman Wright

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"Do your best to practice compassionate listening. Do not listen for the sole purpose of judging, criticizing, or analyzing. Listen only to help the other person express himself and find some relief from his suffering."

~Thich Nhat Hanh