LISTENING

PRACTICE: Who/what do you listen to most often?

Listening is one of my favorite topics and I have written often about the learned skill. It is one of the fundamental keys of inter and intrapersonal success.

It’s the time of year when I review and reflect on the last 12 months. I do so, in order to listen and look for what I learned that will inform the upcoming 12 months. Just as a reminder, I keep a journal, so I write things down at the beginning of the year. It should come as no surprise that one of my goals was to lean in close and to listen to, my body, my inner voice, to my significant others, to the spoken and unspoken, to the weather, to nature, to the news etc. What can I say? Little did I know when I jotted this down in January that I would have more than enough time and space to look, learn and listen. And I think you would agree that I have been busy, there has been more than enough stuff to dissect and digest.

One of the outcomes of my review is that I verified my limited access to some things and people. For example, I monitor closely my exposure to local and national news. Why? My inner voice began to whisper about the effect these were having on me and my effort to be calmer… the enormity of infection and death due to the pandemic and constant chatter were more than I could mentally handle. So, I resorted to the practice of reading snippets…. diving deeper only when necessary to substantiate a claim or fact. Total withdrawal was desired but not an option, ignorance is not bliss – it is ignorance. I decided the same thing about the political arena.

What did my review of self reveal about other areas of my life?

I am disciplined about physical activity. I am less disciplined about food consumption. Nature is my muse. These were easy to highlight.

I have already referenced my small inner voice. It whispered that I am less than happy about the limited human contact with others outside of my pandemic bubble – there is no sadder feeling than being at a funeral of a friend and not able to hug grieving family members. On the flip side of that coin, my inner voice reminded me to be thankful for the lack of a sniffle in the last 9 months.

What do I listen to? I listen to my body. It tells me what it needs. I show my response to the message by resting when tired, eating appropriately when hungry, drinking when thirsty. My neighbors, friends and family often show what they need by their words and actions. I show them that I am listening by how I respond…patience with the technically challenged. None of this is fool proof! My listening is verified by action not by results.

James 1:22

PONDER THIS THOUGHT---Use of the ears supersedes the use of the tongue.