Speaking and Listening Mindfully

The Art of Listening
I knew something of conversation, or so I thought
until I listened to another.
Knew something of the talk, the sounds the chatter, 
But to listen and to speak when moments call, 
that is far greater.
Of conversations past, I no longer can remember, 
Since the day I silent kept- and listened to another, 
There opened up a life which had ‘til then
been merely shadow
At first the life it seemed another’s, but when I was caught
and by the mirror
The face had changed, it told me of another.
Since the day I silent kept- and listened to another. 
-Jonathan Drane

When we apply full presence to our daily activities the richness of our lives unfolds before us. Nowhere is this truer than when we communicate mindfully. But what exactly does that mean? 

When listening to another, we commit to being fully present for the speaker. We listen deeply to them, noticing what arises within us as we listen. We seek to hear the whole message: what is said, and what the speaker may feel. We refrain from formulating what we would like to say in response while they are speaking and, if appropriate, we acknowledge what we have heard.

When speaking to another, we are lean in expression, leaving time for others to be heard. We let there be a pause after something is said. We notice what arises within us as we speak. We speak from the heart as well as the head. In determining whether to speak, we ask ourselves, 
“Is it kind?”
“Is it true?
“Is this the right moment to say it?”

When we communicate in this way, we offer the gift of our full attention. We help those in our lives feel truly heard, and we save ourselves from uttering words we may regret later. We are left with a sense of spaciousness, capacity, and connectedness. 

Hoping you will join us this week as we practice speaking and listening mindfully.

CMP is a 501c3 nonprofit. All of our weekly sessions are free and open to the public, but donations are essential to our sustainability. Checks, cash and credit cards are accepted and donations are tax deductible.

Checks can be given to facilitators at our weekly sits or mailed to:
Community Mindfulness Project
P.O. Box 1713
New Canaan, CT 06840.

Credit card donations are accepted on our website: CommunityMindfulnessProject.org.

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May all beings speak from the heart, may all beings feel heard.