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.


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.