Mindful Moment: Listen with Awareness
Human communication can feel tricky. Are we saying what we mean to say? Are other people speaking what's in their heart? When we listen, are we listening with curiosity and openness, or are we just "waiting for our turn," ready like a ping-pong player to return the volley?
When it comes to listening, especially when what we hear may be surprising or upsetting, it can be very helpful to tune in. Check in. The level of openness or closed-ness in your mind can be mirrored by looseness or tightness in your body. As you breathe into any tension, you may feel more ease throughout the body, as well as more ease in your mind and heart.
What do you notice when you bring awareness to your body while listening? Comment and tell us about it!
"Mindful Moments" is a series that Marianne and Katie developed as "micro-practices" with the intention of offering inspirations to pause, notice, connect, and reflect in the course of daily life. These are suggestions of ways to fold more moments of mindfulness into your day to cultivate "Being Aware & Being Kind."
If you'd like to have these in physical form, we've also made these photos into a desk set-- a deck of 31 cards, in a little bag along with an easel. You can take a look here.
