We tend to put aside what we do not want to listen to or hear. I know that listening and hearing are different, but let us put both actions as synonyms for this article.
This past week I read about mistakes, feedback, advice and being open-minded. I realized that no matter the case, we are either close or open-minded. We can either have the intention of being open to what the other person has to say or not, or even listen to ourselves - our bodies, souls, intuitions, etc. I used to be close-minded because I would always want to think I am right. After all, it feels good to be right even if you are wrong. It is like constantly finding the arguments that will support us in our never-ending debate with whoever. However, let me just say that it isn’t always the best. The moment we start to be open to listening to others, it makes us feel more knowledgeable and curious because we are questioning everything, even the opinions of others (not in a judgmental way, but more constructive). One may think that it shows vulnerability, but in fact, it shows interest, even for ourselves.
For the past months, I have been meditating. For those who meditate, once you get to a certain point where you simply flow and get a feeling of calmness or even a train of thought, but not in an overthinking type of way, you become so hungry for always having that same feeling. Earlier this week, I felt that hunger because I simply can’t find that peace and calmness. Why? Well, I concluded that I have not been listening to my body, nor have I been truly listening to myself. Now, when I say listening to my body, I don’t literally mean that it speaks to me, but in a sense that it needs to be taken care of. This can be in any aspect of life and any circumstance. For example, in one of the books I read, it said that when you feel pain, you should reflect on it because it can give you a clear understanding of what you are facing and what is causing you to feel this way. These reflections we have when we start listening to our bodies and our feelings are patterns in the way we react or even face a situation. Those patterns that we have can help us know what we have not been listening to, and as I said before, we have the opportunity to confront it or simply let it go.
I suggest starting to listen to your body and emotions because they might be repeated patterns that may help you have a different reaction, so you do not have to feel that way again if a similar situation should arise.
However, back to what I was saying about listening to others. In another situation, I had the opportunity to truly talk about something I was going through with someone and them listening, which is such a relief. Because not everybody hears, needless to say, that not everybody listens, it is funny because when someone is in need of ears to rant about something that they are going through, they will interrupt, shut you up and keep on talking because they want to be heard. Still, when you want to do so, some may not even care and switch it up to them. When that happens, you can see who is open and close-minded, empathetic, and self-centred. But, the fact that we now have to reinforce the habit of listening to others is astonishing. But, you have the opportunity to listen, which is amazing and giving others the chance to be heard, which not many get. So embrace that trait that we all have but some show more than others.
Z.
Comments