Keep Your Mind Quiet And Listen!

Instead of listening many times during shared conversations, our minds are racing with all the important thoughts we want to interject and get across. We’ve got to be heard at all costs, so instead of listening we concentrate on our timing to cut off the other speaker without appearing rude. I have to believe we do this unconsciously because most people really care about others and what they have to say.

During those times when we're most anxious to get our ideas heard, we lose out on valuable information that can either make us smarter, or it will broaden our horizons with new thoughts that can be just what we need to solve a problem, find a new path in life or come to a new conclusion. And there's always the opportunity of learning more about a person so that we can understand their motives and perhaps not trust them as we originally believed we should. Then there's the opposite to consider. We might find we have much in common with a person, but we won't know if we don't give them our full attention.

I've caught myself doing this at times with my sister’s son. I hate to admit it, but I have to shut-off my opposing thoughts overriding his voice. Once I calm my mind and just listen to what he has to say with unbiased acceptance, I soon get his trust. That trust allows him more freedom to continue speaking with greater depth and sincerely. And you know what? I learn more about him as others beyond my brotherly need to show him a better way or to guide him in another direction.

There is a spiritual law at work here and once we realize how easily our minds can slip into their own silent, one-sided dialogue, we're open to changing this particularly ignorant habit that might keep us locked within a dark, one dimensional world.

There are great rewards given in exchange for listening. We learn patience, self-control, how to care about others, and most important how to have an open mind for tolerance. Even if we can't agree with what we hear, we'll have the privilege of seeing life from another point of view. We don't have to accept what we hear, but every different point of view expands our minds. And who knows? Just one different or profound idea can lead us in a specific direction we were meant to go, but would have never found otherwise.

So learn to regard different ideas as seeds being planted in your mind. If they're fertile, your heart will embrace them and your mind will deepen them into greater thoughts that will create and bring forth the purpose in life you were meant to fulfill.

And you know what? By listening you can do the same for others. When you truly care about what others have to say, they'll stop and listen to you when it's your turn, unless you're speaking with someone who just isn't listening.

CHANGE OF PLANS

This calls for a change

A change of plan and time

Though it may sound strange

It had been in the prime

When no hands showed up

And the journey gets fatigued

Then it’s time to think and stop

Standing for direction to rescue

A new set of direction but true

To get to the same end

Sometimes this takes hard-knuckles through

It just must be called a friend

When all things look hard

And the future seems blank

Then it’s time to change cards

As the game stand no thanks

Salau O John©