“When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.”
Listening to another is incredibly difficult. Sure we have conversations all the time, but are we so busy preparing our next statement, advocating for our voice to be heard, that we lose the content of what is being said to us. We have learned to avoid gaps in the conversation. How many of us get uncomfortable with the pause? But if we are listening, truly attentive to the other, then some silence in the interaction is needed. It is required to be understood.
Try this mindful way of conversation. Listen. Decide to wait until the speaker is finished to make your reply. Pause and reflect. Then speak.
It will take some time to create this new habit and you will be uncomfortable at first. You will be "itching" to jump in. It's a lot like meditation. Nothing much happens when your thoughts come to you in rapid fire. Slowing down changes everything.
See what happens! You may learn something new!
~Robin, The Meditation Addict