Communication and Deep Listening

Happy New Year! So, how’s your communication going lately? It’s challenging at times especially with loved ones closest to us. Deep or Compassionate listening is a skill that one needs to learn, and practice and it seems especially hard during these turbulent times when we are focused more on our own thoughts and stresses. I have been reading and studying some of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings recently and it boils down to simplifying and going back to basics. Hanh shares that Mindfulness is very simple: Breathe in - I am aware Breathe out - I release tensions in my body Hahn shares that the simple mantra and breath is an act of self love and generates joy, happiness and connection to the present moment. As we are in the present moment and painful emotions arise it helps if we can embrace the emotion and this will cause less suffering. Hahn states that the roots of suffering are in our perceptions and as we begin to understand our own suffering, we can bring compassion to ourselves. That is an act of self-love. Before we can deeply communicate and listen to others, we must love ourselves. This is a practice and takes awareness and commitment. Deep listening is one of the tools that my co-facilitator and I are teaching in our new Mother and Daughter Day Retreat. If you would like to explore how to enhance communication and connection with your teen daughter, this retreat will be life changing. I have included more information under Events. Please feel free to contact me with any questions and if you know a friend or colleague that may benefit from this program kindly forward them this email. With Love and Deep Compassion, Fran Nurse Empowerment Coach