August 20, 2008 ...LISTEN......

I got this beautiful article from my daughter Kalen in the mail the other day and it has me thinking alot. I would like to share it with you and I hope you will listen "kiku".

QUALITIES OF DEEP LISTENING
"Listening for essence"

"Perhaps one of the most precious and powerful gifts we can give another person is to really listen to them, to listen with quiet, fascinated attention, with our whole being,fully present. This sounds simple, but if we are honest with ourselves,we do not often listen to each other so completely.

Listening is a creative force. Something quite wonderful occurs when we are listened to fully. We expand, ideas come to life and grow, we remember who we are. Some speak of this force as a creative fountain within us that springs forth; others call it the inner spirit,intelligence,true self. Whatever this force is called, it shrivels up when we are not listened to and it thrives when we are.

The way we listen can actually allow the other person to bring forth what is true and alive to them. Sometimes we have to do a lot of listening before the fountain is replenished. Have you ever noticed how some people seem to need to talk? They go on and on, usually in a very superfical, nervous manner. This is often because they have not been truly listened to. Patience is required to listen to such a person long enough for them to get to their center point of tranquility and peace. The results of such listening are extraordinary. Some would call them miracles.

Listening well takes time, skill, and a readiness to slow down, to let go of expectations, judgements, boredom, self-assertiveness, defensiveness. I've noticed that when people experience the depth of being listened to like this, they also begion to listen to others in the same way.

Listening is an art that calls for practice. Imagine if we all spent just a few minutes each day practicing the art of listening, being fully present with the person we are with. There would be a collective sigh of contentment and joy. Listen!"

This is such a POWERFUL article and it seems to mean even more to me these days, as the only person I really talk with and listen to on a daily basis is CJ. I find I am listening alot to the sounds around me, but have yet to master the Japanese language and so my communication with others at this point is very little to non-existent.
I do love listening to the cicadas, my music CD's, the chimes and fog horns in the distance, and the melodic tones of the Japanaese language as I try to decipher what they are saying to me and/or each other.

I hope this article leaves you thinking and perhaps reflecting on how you do or don't listen to those you come in contact with each day. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we lived in a world of very content and joyful souls?
Thanks for being a good listener "kikite" and have a great day with whomever you come in contact with.
Karla