Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Listening

Yesterday brought participation in a Board Meeting and today another meeting to discuss research ethics. These meetings are like occasions for dancing.  When is it right to speak and when be silent? When is the silence a profound listening and when is it a disengagement? When is speech expected and how is that thought communicated in words?

I am often overwhelmed by listening and this is because there is so much flooding into my brain requiring thought and internal discussion. I think I need to make more space and listen more deeply and adopt more of a no nothing approach than trying to second guess the intention of the speaker or my own values always present.

Listening is so hard, it is indeed an art as we place ourselves in this space and time seeking to be attuned to the person or the group of people and attuned to oneself.