Mindful Communication Produces Big Rewards




Mindful communication has to do with being mentally and emotionally present when communicating with others.   It is about practicing deep listening rather than being preoccupied or distracted by the thoughts and stories in our own minds.   It is about paying attention to more than just the words that are being said, but to the feelings as well. 

To practice mindful communication and deep listening, notice if you are really present or if your mind is wandering. Are you making eye contact and listening without expectations, prejudice or judgment?  Are you aware of feeling impatient or thinking about what is "really" important or where you need to be next?  Are you distracted by other people or activities that are taking you away from being truly present? 



A late afternoon snapshot after school in England - they are listening to each other intently.

Mindful communication has great rewards. You may feel a connection that you have never felt before and you may feel understood for the very first time.  This then sets the stage for future understanding and connection.  In today’s hectic and fast paced world, I believe that most people are starving for this type of  communication.  I wonder what it would be like, if today, we could each be the change we would like to see?

Meditation Nourishes Your Brain

This looked like a wonderful spot to meditate. 

Meditation nourishes the body, the soul as well as the brain.  The more one meditates, the more the brain changes.  When we meditate, the "old brain" begins to quiet down and our sense of  separateness begins to diminish.  The walls of the ego (or the constructed self) begin to collapse and we begin to sense our oneness.  Scientifically speaking, it is found that those who practice mindfulness meditation have more gray matter in the left hippocampus, the part of the brain involved with emotional control, memory and learning.

Meditation aids in relaxation, concentration and attuning to deeper, more spiritual aspects of the self.  It helps us find our center - our temple of inner wisdom.  Through a meditation practice we can learn to live primarily from this place.  Did you know that the word "meditation" actually comes from the Sanskrit meaning "doing the wisdom".?