Mindful Speech In this meditation,
We will examine how humans are social creatures.
Rarely does a day go by where you don't interact with anyone.
Maybe you have a family,
Live with a roommate,
Or engage with people during work hours.
When you talk,
You can bring mindfulness to what you are saying,
How it may impact others,
And what your intentions are.
This exercise takes just a few minutes,
And you can utilize it anytime.
Do this once or twice a day,
While on the phone,
Talking with a loved one,
Or during any social interaction.
Before speaking,
Bring mindfulness to your intentions.
Ask yourself why you are going to say whatever you plan on saying.
Examine the possibility of saying it with even more kindness or patience.
Consider whether your words are timely and useful in this moment.
We often gossip,
Interrupt,
Or talk simply to avoid uncomfortable silences.
Think about whether or not this is the appropriate time to talk,
And what purpose your words will serve.
If it's possible that your words will put somebody else down,
Interrupt a person currently speaking,
Or ring as untrue,
Try reconsidering your choice of words.
While talking,
Speak slowly and be mindful of the words you are using.
When somebody responds,
Either verbally or with body language,
Observe how it feels.
Remember that you cannot control others,
But you can bring mindfulness to your own responses.
When you are done talking,
Leave the words be.
Listen to the other person and wait for the right time to talk again.
As you practice mindful speech more regularly,
You will be able to navigate challenging conversations with more ease.
Recognizing unwise speech,
You will likely notice times in which you speak without mindfulness.
Set the goal to tune in to your habits of talking.
If you feel yourself gossiping a lot,
Create an intention to avoid gossip.
If you interrupt others often,
Bring special awareness to this pattern.
Don't beat yourself up.
These are growing edges,
And you have the opportunity to attend to them with compassion and kindness.
