I realized recently that I learned to be a listener as a kid because I was told I was to be seen and not heard — so I was quiet and took in the room.
It taught me how to watch for signs, emotions, unspoken vibes between people, and it has meant I often see things that other people don’t see because they are too busy with their own agenda or in their own little worlds.
It doesn’t mean I am perfect at it, but I am always absorbing what is happening for the people around me.
At a certain point in my mid twenties, I learned that I had rich stories of my own.
I had a voice and something to say and I started to listen more to myself and not just to everyone else in the room.
It is sort of like being on a teeter totter between being aware of what is happening around us and also ensuring that our own voice is in the mix.
How we go about offsetting the teeter totter is always specific to the situation, but the best first step is to pause and listen. The voice inside of you and the voices you hear around you all have something to say. Are you listening?
Where is their joy and where is their pain, and what can you do to help?
If you would like to chat further about how to start listening, sign up for a free consult call with me.
