How mindful listening impacts daily conversations
Mindfulness is a form of self-care and self-regulation. It can be practiced within and outside yourself. Mindful listening impacts the results of your interactions. Learn how to cultivate self-awareness through the act of authentic
We all want to be heard. When you commit to listening, you create the space for others to process more effectively. Interruptions can create a sense of feeling disconnected. Yet, you can learn to shift this dynamic mindful listening, one interaction at a time.
The simple meaning of mindfulness is “paying attention” and is described as non-doing, resting, and cooling down. The more you can pay attention to the present moment, the more you can pay attention to your body/mind experience with compassion and curiosity.
When you're overwhelmed with daily stressors, you will have a harder time listening. When you practice self-regulation, you become a better listener internally and externally. You acclimate more to your nervous system, helping increase present-moment awareness.
To take a pause and help yourself transition from "then" to now, you can use any of these methods:
Five Finger Breathing: This simple strategy is available when you have just ~ 20 seconds. Look up a video on "5 finger breathing" or "take 5" to learn this tactic.
Noticing 5 senses: Notice what is available in the moment with at least one of 5 senses, from noticing the feet on the ground to the sensations in the breath.
Thankfulness: Bring up something that feels thankful or appreciative about.
Attention on intention
You can cultivate self-awareness and self-regulation though attention. Through attention, you can better develop intention. The four foundations of mindfulness are:
Mindfulness of the body
Mindfulness of feelings
Mindfulness of the mind or heart
Mindfulness of qualities
The first three foundations involve looking inward, while the fourth, mindfulness of phenomena, involves shifting focus to the world around us.
While looking inwards, you can cultivate attention on your intention.
If you do not know your intention before you speak or act, there is a large chance that your unconscious intention comes from fear. To be able to detect your intention before speaking or acting, practice internal mindful listening. Then, extend mindful listening to others.
How do your daily interactions change as a result of this practice? Assess, adjust, repeat
#mindfulness #breath #practice #listening #intention
