Day 11 NCAM – National Codependency Awareness Month
by Diane Jellen | | NCAM DAY 11 |
Are you a talker or a listener?
As a full-fledged caregiver, enabler, overseer, control freak, whatever one of the skills I work on is to try and be quiet. I am slowly learning to give the other person a chance to speak, as I focus on listening to hear what’s being said.
This is not as easy as it sounds. Like most people, while the other person is talking, I’m already forming a rebuttal or an “I know how to do it better” suggestion.
As we begin a new week, here are a few tips on the value of listening. No need to respond verbally.
Simply sit back and read – listen with your soul.
1. The quieter you become the more you can hear.
2. The world gives us answers every day. We have to learn the skill of listening.
3. Most of us don’t listen to understand – we listen with the intent to respond. We think we have to have a quick comeback.
4. Your first instinct is usually right. Take time. Listen and think about the situation.
5. To respect someone is to listen, really listen to what they are saying.
6. Speech is silver. Silence is golden. Discretion is more valuable than the most eloquent word.
and my all time favorite quote —–
7. I am a Quaker – in case of emergency, please be quiet.
“The less form in religion the better, since God is a Spirit; . . . the more silent, the more suitable to the language of a Spirit.” William Penn
