Mindfulness Daily Check In July 8 2017

Hi everyone Wow already Saturday- where did the week go? How are you all today?

How often have you had a conversation with someone, and thought you were paying attention to them, only to realize shortly afterwards that you can't remember what they said? Or, perhaps you got distracted while they was speaking and missed the message that they was trying to deliver. How about when you are sharing with some one-and they are not mindfully listening to you? How do you feel?

Being alert to listening is very important, mindfullly being present when someone is talking is a skill to practice. If you are like me and some one keeps saying "huh or what" some times gets aggitating and I lose my thought or wanting to talk to this person again. So how can we be mindfullly listening to some one?

Being present. When you listen mindfully, your focus should be on the person you are listening to, without distractions. So, how do you do that?

Simplify your surroundings: workplaces are full of distractions like phones, computers, printers, and electronic devices. Keep your workspace tidy, and mute your devices.

Give yourself time Take a minute or two to clear your mind before you meet with someone. Practice a few relaxation skills such as deep breathing and muscle relaxation, before the conversation.

Meditate: Meditation is a way of practicing mindfulness and can be an excellent way of learning how to focus on the moment. When you empty your mind of "clutter" you can make room for other people's points of view. Meditation is like many other exercises the more you do it the better at it you will become. It can be difficult to find time in a busy schedule for meditation, but even five or 10 minutes a day can help.

Cultivating empathy We often see the world through the lens of our own experiences, personality and beliefs. When you're empathic you can understand a situation from someone else's point of view. For example, you can validate their perspective by acknowledging their opinion. It does not mean you have to agree with them , just that you accept they have a different view of a situation from you.

3. Listening to your own "cues." Feelings and physical reactions we have when we feel anxious or angry, and they can block out ideas and perspectives that we're uncomfortable with. Mindful listening can help us to be more aware of our cues, and allow us to choose not to let them block communication.

The rule is straightforward... simply "Listen!" Listen carefully and attentively. Pay complete attention to the other person, and don't let other thoughts like what you are going to say next – distract you.

So I am curious to know your thoughts on this. Or any skills or things you do to help you be present and listen more????

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