Listening – Respect – and your Inner Observer… how all three work together.
Last week I talked about the need to listen. I’ve found that to be the right place for me, and I hope you’ve found that as well. But there’s more to it…
We’ve seen public figures who can’t help themselves and choose to speak when they’d be better off instead, listening carefully.
I’ve cringed when I’ve heard influencers rush to a message that falls flat.
Since writing my post on listening, I came across a quote that links listening to respect…
When you listen to someone, it’s the most profound act of human respect.”
– William Ury, author
Do you think William Ury has it right? I’m thinking he does. If you’ve ever witnessed the joy in a toddler when a grown-up grants them their full attention, you know this is true. Now more than ever, people need to feel their voices are being heard.
I’ll freely admit I’m still wrestling with that urge to have something to say. But I can’t help feeling I would sound like a Monday-morning quarterback watching sports on television. (Do you remember sports?)
I know I’m not alone. We all want to add to the conversation. We want to have something meaningful to say.
Still, I’m angry and upset—So what?
My complaints are nothing compared to anything that might be discussed in less privileged neighborhoods. No matter what I choose to say, I still will never have any idea. Any idea at all… about life in those neighborhoods. This I know.
Even if I knew what to say, I find myself unprepared to weigh-in… and yet, unable to pivot to subject matter that may be more appealing.
No, the truth is I’m wanting something more comfortable to write about.
I realize that even more now. I’m not sure how I managed to come to that understanding, but I’m glad I have.
Earlier this week, I was purging some files and quickly flipped through an article I had saved about mindfulness and paying attention. About to throw it in the recycle bin, one of the subheadings was poking its head out from the top…
“2. Practice your inner observer.”
“You don’t see the world as it is, but as you are.” BOOM. Doesn’t that sound like a loaded statement? Keeping in mind the article is about mindfulness, the idea that we might have an inner observer fits right in. Hmmm. (pondering).
No, don’t worry… I do believe mindfulness is a good skill to have, but I’m not selling those goods today.
That answer would be too easy.
The article suggests that not only do we see from our own point of view, we interpret our world based on how we’re feeling and thinking at the time. Kind of makes our observations a bit of a moving target, I’d say.
This quote by Wayne Dyer zeroes it right in for us…
When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
–Dr. Wayne Dyer, author and speaker
Volumes have been written about how we humans perceive our world and its goings-on. We could explore that topic alone for a very long time. But it’s worth keeping Doctor Dyer’s quote in mind as we navigate these troubled times.
It might even help us sharpen our inner observer skills and make a difference how honestly we see things.
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
Be untucked.
P.S. Would you consider sharing this post on social media, or forward it to a friend, colleague, or family member? Thanks… I owe you one!
Copyright © 2020 Jeff Meister – All Rights Reserved
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