Listening deeply in a distracted world

by Courtney E. Martin                           

Dr. Ralph Nichols, one of the founders of the field of listening, once said, "The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them."

When we read these words, we know them in our bones, and yet so much of our daily lives is structured -- not around listening -- but around doing, talking, producing, consuming. In this overwhelming world, it is easy to lose sight of the power of slowing down, gathering in community, and exploring the power of silence and the wisdom of others. When we listen we reap such deep reward, and yet we must insist on it, create spaces for it, counter the speed and tenor of the culture that surrounds us in order to make it an absolute priority. 

In many ways, the person we've become least accustomed to listening to in this loud society is ourselves. This month renowned meditation expert Sharon Salzberg is facilitating a 28-day meditation challenge. She's taking the most ancient wisdom -- that we must listen to ourselves -- and coupling it with the newest in technology -- blogging and tweeting. Check it out and join in if you're compelled. 

This week, as we begin our adventure together, pay special attention to your own listening practices. When and in what ways do you listen to your own thoughts and feelings? Are you conditioned to hit pause on a busy day and prioritize deeply listening to and trying to understand a colleague, a child, your significant other? What allows you to do that or what might allow you to do it more intuitionally?

Note:  Courtney is the author of our Healing Democracy Action Circles guide.  We hope you'll sign up to lead a circle! Learn more here, and be sure to follow along with us here on the blog, on our Facebook page, and on Twitter (@couragerenewal).