Conscious Communication

This practice explore conscious communication, specifically the art of sacred listening. A wonderful opportunity to apply mindful listening to your relationships; this is a partner practice. The track suggests the practice, inviting the listeners to receive the teaching and then deepen the exploration of it offline.

Transcript

Welcome to this practice around active,

Dedicated listening.

This exercise requires a partner.

Ask a friend or a loved one to join you for 10 minutes of practice.

And they can be a complete beginner to mindfulness or have a practice of their own.

It doesn't matter.

In this exercise you will both be working with the practice of listening mindfully.

Mindful listening.

It is active and quite intentional.

Whomever you choose,

They should be somebody you trust.

The practice will require some vulnerability.

The partner who is listening should listen attentively with a clear mind and no judgment.

Try to be present with the experience of listening fully and of letting go of the need to respond.

While listening,

You should retain awareness of your own experience as you take in the words that the other is saying.

Explore what it means to be present while listening fully.

And when speaking,

Practice mindful speech.

Be honest.

Allow yourself to be vulnerable and observe the words you are saying.

Use language with intention.

And now sit down at eye level with your partner and choose one person to speak first while the other listens.

Set a timer for four minutes.

The person who speaks first can begin talking about inspirations and intentions they have for their day,

For their loved ones,

For their future,

For themselves and so on.

And when the timer goes off,

Switch roles.

The other person can now talk about their inspirations and their intentions while the other person practices active mindful listening.

And when the timer completes,

Invest a few minutes conversing.

How was the practice?

What was it like to sit and just listen?

Was it difficult to not respond?

Enjoy the practice.

It is very fruitful.

Thank you.