Joyful January Day #30: Switch off and truly tune in

Switch Off and Truly Tune In

Being truly listened to is so close to being loved it is hard to tell the difference.

Have A Conversation Without Your Phone (or other distractions)

Listening is more than just the physical act of hearing, it takes an effort both of mind and body to truly tune in. Being truly listened to is so close to being loved it is hard to tell the difference, I am not sure who said that originally but I think it is pretty accurate. Many of us live in a world full of distractions- road noise, other people, TV, music, emails, our phones, alerts and so much more. So many distractions, and these listed are only some of the ones outside of our own heads! 

So what might it look like if we really listened?  

We would give the person/people speaking our attention with our mind and body:  

We would quieten the voice in our head, the one that judges, plans what we will say, predicts what the other person will say, goes through the shopping list, wonders what might be happening on social media... 

We would turn our body to the person speaking, and avoid moving in a distracting way  

We would listen to understand not to prove ourselves right or better or smarter or more amusing

We would add to the conversation not change it to better suit our own agenda 

We would paraphrase and question genuinely, showing curiosity and interest

We would listen actively so there'd be no interrupting or tuning out 

We would see this as a good use of time, not a waste of time  

This might sound intense, but of course we don't have to be creepy about it, in fact it is more about being respectful and enjoying the journey of the conversation instead. It is about being prepared to appreciate the other person's perspective and learn more from them. Active listening can support positive wellbeing by improving relationships, helping us to tune out distractions so we are less overwhelmed and adding to our knowledge or shifting our perspectives- it's got a lot going for it! 

“When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. 

But if you listen, you may learn something new.” 

Dalai Lama 

This Joyful January project is part of the Happy Healthy Teachers Matter Online Summit: Restore your health, boost your wellbeing and embark on a happy healthy lifestyle for 2021

That is exactly what the Happy Healthy Teachers Matter Online Summit is all about. YOU having the knowledge, skills, support and most importantly the WHY to make your health, energy and vitality a priority for 2021 and beyond.

This was held live on 22nd - 24th Jan with 17+ heart centred wellness experts and a 3 hour vision board online workshop- recordings are available NOW Find out all the details here: please follow this link: https://www.spectrumeducation.com/happy-healthy-teachers-matter-online-summit-home/ 

Click here for a link to the Joyful January Calendar