Please Listen

"When you Talk you are only Repeating what you know; but when you Listen, you may Learn something new."  ~Dalai Lama

What started out as a conversation with my 8 yr. old daughter quickly turned into a power struggle and it appeared that whoever could raise their voice the loudest would be the winner. It didn't take but a few seconds for me to realize that arguing my point louder than should could argue hers was pointless. I took a deep breath, became silent and listened to her finish saying what she wanted to say. It was amazing to see the change in her tone and her demeanor when she was finally heard.
Listening may be one of the most important but many times unpracticed skills a person can possess. We all want to be heard and understood, though it can be difficult to find the patience to simply listen and possibly learn something new.

Listening can be a great tool on your journey to achieving and maintaining wellness. 
Not only is it important to listen to others, but to also listen to ourselves. Have you ever taken the time to peacefully ponder what it is that YOUR body, mind or spirit need in that moment? Take a moment to sit quietly and think about how you are feeling physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Your body may be trying to tell you something. Are you feeling tired, injured, stressed or emotionally drained? Do you have trouble sleeping, concentrating or feeling happy? I'm not suggesting any quick fixes or remedies, rather I want to encourage you to take some quiet moments to listen to your body and evaluate yourself and your needs. As mothers, we tend to give a lot of attention and put a lot of our energy into our families...which is great and necessary. However, in serving and loving and giving to those around you, don't neglect YOU. 

With the busy holiday season upon us, it can be a great time to practice finding a peaceful time to learn something new about ourselves, our bodies, our health and set goals for the upcoming year.
So LISTEN...
And be well!
BHW