Speak Less, Listen More
Prefer to listen to this post while you focus on the picture? Go ahead and take a listen.
Speak less.
Listen more.
But this requires me to slow down. To savor the moment.
To listen to the tiny whispers that I usually tune out from, because I don’t want to hear what they have to say.
Speak less.
Listen more.
It’s easy to say, but tough to do.
I have to live intentionally to make it work, but I can. It’ll be worth it.
The whispers are getting louder for me. I am starting to hear them. Lately, they’ve told me to focus on me.
New concept for me. I like to give, I don’t like to receive.
It’s good. The whispers are very good.
What do you hear when you listen for the whispers,
When you turn off the TV, your email, your Twitter, and just listen for the whispers.
Are you afraid of what might happen if you speak less and listen more?
Happy Monday! Happy EVERY day!
Speak less, listen more photo, courtesy of Shermee
That is a scary photo that reminds me of the Matrix (the first and best one of the trilogy). "How can you speak Mr. Anderson when you don't have a mouth!" (chills).
A guy just responded to one of my tweets (twitter) that talked about being the type of person that adds value to others. He asked how you can do that on twitter (add value with 140 characters). One of the things I said in my "brief" response was listen. Because listening helps people feel like they belong. And a sense of belonging builds community!
You're a good listener Phil. Thanks for the reminder to really hear what's going on around me.
Posted by: timage | January 05, 2009 at 01:37 AM
Good advice Phil! I find it interesting that the media portray quick fast talkers as more intelligent (think of the remarkable quick dialogue on the television show "The West Wing"). Perhaps fast talkers are in some ways more intelligent but I suspect that most people with wisdom are good listeners and they take time to consider the opinions and ideas of others. Reminds me of a quote by Benjamin Franklin who said at the signing of the U.S. Constitution "For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects which I once thought right but have found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment and to pay more respect to the judgment of others."
Happy new year to you and all the best for 2009.
Posted by: Michael Lee Stallard | January 07, 2009 at 02:27 PM