Planning, Obsessing, and Worrying... Oh my!

This post will conceivably be the most vital post on this blog in terms of talking about how to become a better, more effective listener.

The first step to becoming a good listener is silencing the mind. Why is that important? Think about it... How many times during the day do you think about what is going to happen next?

You may find that your mind is everywhere else except in the present; obsessing about things that haven’t happened yet. And when it is not obsessing or worrying, it may be planning ahead. The truth is, you are only alive in this moment, so enjoy it!

Internal talking hinders the ability to listen more than anything else because the mind is everywhere, except in the present moment.

Some practices that will help you become less stressed, less noisy, more mindful, and a better listener is starting your day by mediating. Even ten minutes of meditation a day will make a huge difference. 

Here is a good video that will help walk you through your first meditation:

A good friend of mine, Alicia Richard, highly recommends starting your day out with meditating. "You will feel more awake, very relaxed, and the quality of your day will really improve," Richard's said .

 "If I leave my house without meditating in the morning, my day feels so much more stressful and busy," Richard's said. "I began meditating a couple of years ago and tried different meditating techniques. I enjoy listening to piano music while meditating. It helps me clear my mind -- which is essential to meditating effectively."


The following video is a song that Alicia Richard enjoys meditating to:

In addition, meditating has huge health benefits such as lowering high blood pressure, building self confidence, and helps with weight lose. Click here to find out more

Ann Pizer, an expert on meditation and yoga, calls the noisy mind the monkey mind.

Pizer says,“The monkey mind jumps from thought to thought like a monkey jumps from tree to tree. Rather than existing in the present moment, the monkey mind focuses on one thought after another, and these thoughts distract us from existing in the present..."

 

Try starting your day off tomorrow by meditating. I promise you it will pay off, immensely! You will feel the benefits instantaneously.