Listen

I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure that you realize that what you heard is not what I meant - Robert McCloskey

Isn't it always safer to clarify what you think someone is saying? And for you to ask the listener what you think they heard you say...

Saves the drama, misunderstanding and confusion .....

Happy Saturday!

Listen

I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening - Larry King

Learning to stay quiet takes practice. It's not something that comes naturally for some of us; it's truly not a common trait. But it is something that is needed a lot; that is, if we want to be successful in coordinating people's emotions with their actions.

Talking to or at people doesn't really solve anything. It could actually escalate their emotional state for the worse and nothing would be accomplished, as a result.

Learn to listen and things could and would get resolved faster.

Good Listener

Ever needed someone just to hear you out?  Someone to talk to that doesn't necessarily have to say anything back....just a listening ear?  A lot of times, I find myself not being that friend.  Not all the time, but sometimes.  I have a really good sister who tells me that I do this often .... or she will often say at the beginning of her conversation "Queen, you do not need to say anything, just listen"  :).  Naturally, I am a good listener, but (it is true) I often find myself mentally preparing a response as I am listening.  Although this is a good thing, its not always great. 

I don't know about your friends but each one of mine are totally different....opinionated, desperate, competitive, strong-willed, dramatic, emotional, non-confrontational, scared, full of life, tired (all the time), hurt, broken etc.   Yeah, this just about sums up all of my close friends.  And we need all these types of personalities, to keep life fun and balanced.

And this listening without necessarily responding thing is something that I need to learn hard.  Its good to know that I can talk to someone and they are truly there (in the moment), to hear me out.  Not to say that you do not have an opinion, but it doesn't always have to be heard!

Let's practice this....

Listen to Your Body

Here's another Helpful Tip from my 10,000 Steps Program

Yes, your body does talk to you about its needs and wants. Are you listening? Although improving your habits may be challenging at times, your body wants what is best for you. Once you overcome the barriers to improving your habits, your body is able to collaborate with you in order to maintain these newly adopted healthier habits.

People who have been active for a while do report feeling like their body asks for physical activity! Make sure you insist on progressing with this program to reach the point where your body actually asks (if it’s not already doing so) you to be active! It does not feel like a chore anymore; it feels more pleasurable (if you are not there yet, you will get there)! Allow yourself to reach that point – you deserve it!

The same actually happens with eating more nutritiously. The more you try delicious nutritious new options, the more your body will ask for them! Remember that your body can only ask for what it knows. If you have not tried some foods, it can not ask for it! Eating nutritiously is not something you do because you have to. It is something you learn how to do because you try delicious nutritious recipes and love them!

Body Builders:

• Try something new and nutritious and see how your body loves it
• Decide on a physical activity that you can add to your day...and do it!

Slow to Anger

What happens inside of us when someone criticizes us? I know for me, the first impulse is to defend myself; especially if I think my actions were justifiable, ... right?  While turning the tables on our "attacker" is natural, it is also potentially dangerous to our relationships (any type of our relationships that we have).  This is how daily everyday events quickly turn into major blow-ups.