As Long As It Takes!

How Long?

Communication, specifically listening, is one of my favorite topics to discuss and write about as I see it being a dying art.  I recall writing a narrative called 17 Seconds, which happens to be the average amount of time it takes before someone interrupts in a conversation.  Why do we interrupt so much?  We can thank the big chunk of gray tissue located above our shoulders and under our scalp.  Our brains enjoy analyzing, organizing, and problem solving, but there is another significant part of our body, which needs to be involved in the process: the heart.  I have read numerous commentaries regarding the heart’s cognitive ability to make decisions.  There are two specific sites with detailed information www.heartbasedliving.com or www.heartmath.org.

The head/heart connection exists in all of us, but the head tends to want to lead the process all the time.  It is a conscious effort to get the heart involved in the decision making process.  The heart helps bring overall balance to the process.  Striving to be a better listening by working on the head/heart connection will enable us to be an overall better communicator.  As an exercise, see how long you can listen to someone without jumping in on the conversation or attempting to problem solve in your heard.  Try putting everything aside and really try to be a total listener.  When the other person knows you are fully engaged in listening, they feel it.  When they feel it, then you feel it as they open up even more. 

How long?  How long can you go just being a total listener?  Remember, listening is one of the best compliments you can give to someone.

Rodney - Listening With Antici............................................Pation