Slice of Life #19: To Listen is to Love.

Slice #19:  To Listen is To Love

“To listen is to love.”     --Panache Desai

Here is a found poem based on the post, “I Hear You,” on Panache Desai’s website.  I realized (after writing it) that it connects with and reflects a lot of my thinking on this blog, particularly in Slice of Life Post #9.

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To listen is to love.

Listen

From a space of presence

Give

Your undivided attention

To listen is to give a great gift

To listen is to love.

Words met with spaciousness

Facial expression, body language

           S o f t e n

The Speaker is most important

To listen is to communicate

To listen is to love.

Bringing sacred stillness

To everyday interaction

Nothing more powerful

Or more loving

Than being heard

To listen is to validate.

To listen is to love.

          Not criticizing

                   Not judging

                             Not lecturing

                                      Never invalidated or shamed

          What we say matters

To listen is to suspend need for control

To listen is to love

          Affirming

                   Building trust

                             Facilitating understanding

                                      Lovingly holding space

          Express what needs expressed

To listen is to be present

To listen is to love

                             L o o k          F o c u s         R e l a x

                                        R E C E I V E

                  

                             PAY ATTENTION!     Be present.

          Mirror back and be sincere.

To listen is to seek understanding

To listen is to love

Ask for clarification

Validate

Respond with empathy

Cultivate the practice

of lovingly listening

Listening is connecting with action

To listen is to love.