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Listening with Presence
November 19, 2020
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First, From the Heart
The greatest gift in life is the gift of our attention. In an overstimulated world running at hyper-speed, we rarely give each other the time of day, let alone our undivided attention. We’re now culturally attuned to multitasking, and having our devices invade all the precious, quiet spaces in our lives.
Bringing our wholehearted presence to another person can be life-changing for everyone involved. Being seen and heard by another makes us feel like we belong, we are valued, and we are connected. Can you think of a better gift to give or receive?
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Best of the Blog
Compassionate Leadership Practice Series: Listening with Presence
Hearing is one of our five basic senses, but all it means is that we perceive the sound made by someone or something via our ears. To listen, however, goes beyond the sound and requires our attention. In fact, the origin of the word “listen” comes from the Old English and German “to pay attention.”
This practice helps us listen with presence, which is quickly becoming a lost art in the everyday backdrop of constant distractions, disconnection, and discontent. We offer this brief exercise to reignite our listening skills, crucial for any leader or human being to effectively connect with others. Read more.
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Practice Matters
Learning to Receive
We are taught that it’s better to give than to receive. We learn from a young age to give our time, attention, resources, advice, and energy to others. We may do this consciously with specific intentions of kindness and compassion, but often the giving reflex kicks in unconsciously. We give and give and give until our tanks are empty, and there is no fuel left to nourish ourselves.
What if we changed the equation to give and receive? What would our lives be like if we opened up to receive plenty of nourishing, loving, and healing attention, resources, and time from others? Might we then also acknowledge that we deserve to give ourselves more time, attention, and resources too? None of this is selfish, even if it sounds counter to our conditioning. We are responsible for our basic wellbeing. Practice listening to your own needs and desires and take good care of yourself.
When can we practice? Always!
Photo Credit: Ryan Christodoulou on Unsplash.
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Recommended Reads
Speak Peace in a World of Conflict: What You Say Next Will Change Your World
by Marshall B. Rosenberg
How do you communicate? Are you sowing violence or cultivating peace? Speak Peace in a World of Conflict can support compassionate leaders in their quest to use communication as a tool for uniting and inspiring others.
The book is based on Rosenberg’s well known principles of Non-Violent Communication, and includes an overview of the process of non-violent communication, as well as sections that address such important compassionate leadership topics as self-compassion, othering, and transforming business culture. Read more.
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Upcoming Events
What is the role of faith in cultivating compassion in global health?
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 8:00 AM EST
This Global Compassion Rounds, hosted by the Focus Area for Compassion and Ethics (FACE) at the Task Force for Global Health and the Global Learning Laboratory (GLL) at the World Health Organization, will explore the important link between faith and compassion for individuals and communities around the world – especially those working within and alongside health systems. Featuring panelists Alon Goshen-Gottstein, Founder & Director of The Elijah Interfaith Institute; Anthea Ramos, Director of International Health at St John of God Health Care, and Lolita de Araujo, Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Guido Valadares National Hospital. To register click here.
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