The Gift of Deep Listening
Pause to Ponder
For July and August, instead of writing full-length blogs, I’ll be sharing short “Pause to Ponder” posts—offering you something I’ve found lovely, intriguing or inspiring to touch your heart or get you thinking. Happy summering!
“I suspect that the most basic and powerful way to connect with another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. And especially if it's from the heart. When people are talking, there's no need to do anything but receive them. Just take them in. Listen to what they're saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than understanding it.”
— Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D, from Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal
“Formulating an opinion is not listening. Neither is preparing a response, or defending our position or attacking another’s. To listen impatiently is to hear nothing at all.
Listening is suspending disbelief.
We are openly receiving. Paying attention with no preconceived ideas. The only goal is to fully and clearly understand what is being transmitted, remaining totally present with what’s being expressed—and allowing it to be what it is.
Anything less is not only a disservice to the speaker, but also to yourself…”
— Rick Rubin, from The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Take a Moment Micro-Meditation
Tiny pauses to be right here, right now can have big results. Our Take a Moment series of micro-meditations—all under two minutes long—make taking mindful pauses as easy as possible. We invite you to "Take a Moment" to find the calm that is always within you.
