What if we really listen this week? I mean really open up to what we are hearing, going beyond what we want to hear, what we would enjoy hearing, or what we select to hear. Imagine if we were to listen and hear the message behind the stated message. How powerful would that be?
Then listen to yourself. Listen to your inner thoughts, not just the words you speak. Oh, they are important, but let’s dig deeper. Do you tend to have more positive or negative thoughts? Remember, your thoughts influence how you feel, then your feelings impact what you actually do, and what you do determines the outcomes you achieve.
Who and what are you allowing to feed your mind? Consider that the books you read, movies you watch, and music you listen to, plus Facebook (maybe we should unlike a few), Twitter, LinkedIn, the blogs you read, and friends you hang around with all feed into the thoughts you think.
How about listening to others? Do we hear what we want to hear, or are we listening beyond the words? Do we hear their tone of voice; are we observing their actions to see the entire picture? What if this week we listened beyond the words people spoke and heard commitments, actions, points of view, desires, fears, and people simply asking for help? Maybe we need to learn to listen with our eyes. Just think how much better servants we would become.
I had a class member tell me that he listens very intently during the day so during his 20-mile early evening bike ride he can listen again to his conversations, but with a different filter. This gives him greater perspective, which allows him a have a better servant heart the following day because he can respond to what was really being communicated.
Human relations principle: “Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.” – Dale Carnegie
Onward!
John
P.S. I would appreciate the opportunity to connect with you on LinkedIn.