THE DAILY SPARK

ASK YOURSELF

“Don’t ask what the world needs.  Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go out and do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Quote by Howard Thurman, author, theologian, civil rights leader (1899 – 1981)

REFLECTION:

  • Ask yourself: what makes you come alive?
  • Are you doing that?
  • How alive are you?
  • How can you come alive … more alive today?

TO LISTEN

WAYS TO LISTEN:

Listening TO: listening to content

Listening FOR:  what are you listening for… 

  •  your agenda
  •  proof you are right and they align with your viewpoint
  • proof they are wrong and you are gathering ammunition to fight back

Listening FROM: How are you listening? From …

  • curiosity 
  • wanting to understand a different viewpoint
  • learning
  • compassion
  • genuine interest

Thoughts and reflection from COMMUNE podcast with Jeff Krasno with Justin MIchael Williams 

REFLECTION:

  • Reflect on a recent “charged” conversation.   Were you listening TO, FOR, FROM?
  • Is there a “courageous conversation” you need to have?  How do you want to listen?
  • Is there a strained relationship that could benefit from a new way of listening?  Think about how you might listen Practice really listening and see what happens.  Let me know how it goes!

GETTING UNSTUCK

When our brain registers that we are stuck in some way… telling ourselves a story –  Oh you’re bad, you’re failing, something is wrong with you.  Or when we notice we are stuck in a familiar anxious feeling… or resorting to an addictive behavior that we know numbs us… if we pause, create space for the feeling , we can begin to break out of this trance.  This sacred act of pause can support you in dismantling the habits that create suffering.

Pause and change that pattern.

Paraphrased from a podcast by Tara Brach –

Tara Brach is an American psychologist, author, and proponent of Buddhist meditation. She is a guiding teacher and founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, D.C. 

REFLECTION:

  • What story are you telling yourself?
  • Is it positive or negative?
  • Is it a repeating pattern?
  • Next time you are overcome with negative thoughts or anxiety, pause.  Try it, it works!