LISTENING is one of the great acts of LOVE

As a facilitator of developing listening skills, I was pleased to hear these two quotes in the following video Dialogue at Washington High:

• “Listening is one of the great acts of LOVE.”
• “An enemy is someone whose story you have not heard.”   Gene Knudsen-Hoffman

An exercise of listening the students take part in,  after the guest speakers in this video,  is similar to one I urge in my groups.  To witness the connection in the students,who are from different backgrounds and to hear their surprise at the outcome, verifies to me our need to begin to develop the, ” art of listening. ”

In the tools for learning I encourage, what I call  three parts of the dialogue;

1. the inner story we tell ourselves (that no hears but us)
2. expressing to another
3. receiving expression from another

In this  clip I enjoyed hearing their interpretation for dialogue, as they refer to it.  They mention it  is not the following:

• it is not discussion or ideas back and forth, as this isn’t listening
• it is not social conversation
• it is not debate with a winner or loser

What they suggest is that it is a win/win for each person and from this comes new ideas, new ways of thinking where everyone benefits.  The practice is simply listening.  The exercise is to listen to each other without interruption for 15 minutes and then switch and listen to the other.

This is the basic skill I focus upon in my sessions and we work towards learning how to build upon this so that we can develop it into our everyday experience of interaction.  Witnessing and hearing the sharing of the students experiences confirms the value of this technique.

Empathy from cultivating awareness from the inside out

The intent of this article is in the context of how  communication and movement can support the decrease of anxiety, stress & fear.

• InTouch Communication:  Values & Empathy integration in communication for transforming disconnection into connection
• Feldenkrais Movement: calming one’s nervous system.

Natural World Empathy Support 

• Natures Love plant essences blended by Renee: support body, and minds feelings that block emotions and self-confidence

Learn more

• Eating Coloured Foods:  Metal, Emotional and Physical Support

Learn more

• InTouch on ‘Empathy and our Brain‘ 
• InTouch on the Brain – ‘Reactions to Stress’
• Experiencing Presence through Left Brain, Right Brain Movement Awareness

Find out more on how integrating the arts of movement, communication and space compliment your experience and encompasses a holistic approach to wellness.

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Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,