Technalink has always appreciated that being a good listener is one of the most valuable and underrated social and managerial skills we have. But one thing many people don’t realize about developing a stronger sense of mindfulness is that it can go a long way toward making you a better listener as well.
Listening Means Paying Attention
It seems like something that should go without saying, and yet at the same time, one of the chief challenges many people have when it comes to listening is actually paying attention to what is being said. This can occur for a number of reasons, such as entering a conversation primarily to say what you want, not being interested in hearing others out, or being addicted to social media and needing to check your phone while someone is talking. Sometimes it’s as simple as having so many thoughts you are worried about that your attention is focused internally rather than on what someone is saying.
All of these things, however, mean that whatever another person is saying, you’re not hearing it.
Mindfulness Is About Observation
People who learn to meditate learn to attain a state of mindfulness, which means focusing on observing themselves or the world around them. Rather than getting lost in thoughts, it is about a decision to pay attention to the thought, its coming, its going, or similar movements in the environment.
Mindfulness can similarly be applied to conversation. Being mindful of someone talking means paying attention to what they say, how they say it, and even their body language. This goes a long way toward making you a more effective listener. When you are mindful, you retain more and even gain new insights.
Building up mindfulness can come through meditation and finding the right tools to develop it, such as fluorite prayer stones. These can be useful aids in improving the meditation experience.
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