The DAILY SPARK Blog

Anyone can listen.  All you have to do is stop talking.  But to be a good listener, you have to stop talking and be interested.  Genuine curiosity is the precursor to understanding and a good listener helps the other person feel understood.FROM:  Quote by James Clear from his book ATOMIC HABITSTo check out this book: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habitsREFLECTION:How well do you listen?Think of a recent conversation, did you feel understood?  Did the other person feel understood?Is there someone in your life that listens so well, you feel understood? Who is it?Thank them... let them know you appreciate being heard!How can you become a better listener?

Toddlers don't get afforded a lot of respect.  They whine all the time about how unfair things are, and it's difficult to take them seriously.  Lately, in our quest for victory, we've established that some winners get there via whining, and perhaps this is a useful strategy.  It seems as though working the refs, blaming the conditions and questioning the score is all good as long as it helps you come out on top.  In fact, whining isn't resilient or scalable.  People with confidence, power and reserves are able to admit when they are wrong, when things aren't working and when it doesn't turn out the way they hoped.  If you're hoping to demonstrate power, confidence or status, taking responsibility is a better signal than whining.  FROM: Seth Godin's Daily BlogREFLECTION:Do you whine or complain how unfair things are?Are you able to admit when you are wrong.  when things aren't working?Is there a situation in which you can take responsibility for things not going right?Demonstrate your power ... don't whine!

"At the end of each year, I ask myself two questions:What do I want to create in this New Year?                                     What do I want to let go of?"Source:  Patricia Digh from her book: LIFE IS A VERB: 37 Days To Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live IntentionallyTo learn more about this book:  https://www.pattidigh.com/books/REFLECTION:Great questions to discover ...What do you want to create this year?What do you want to let go of?Take some time to reflect and answer these two most important questions.