Mindful Listening
A few words by Teresa on Listening
Steven Henagar’s College
Teresa Palacios
Communication Arts
Dani Liese
Assignment Issue Date: Week 3
Being Mindful Listening
“Mindfulness is a choice. It is not a talent that some people have and others don’t.”
Abstract
The very first step in listening is the decision to be mindful. Mindfulness is being present, fully in the moment.
I knew, I was in for a beating as soon as I started to read this subject on mindfulness. It is definitively an area where I can use some improvement, especially with my 14 year old. My 14 year old, his name is David. David often comes up to me, while my mind is busy thinking of all the crap I have to do, while washing dishes or something. He just randomly comes up to me and starts telling me stuff, while I am totally zoned out. And then, seconds or minutes later I’ll be like, “hu, what did you say”. He absolutely hates it. I don’t do it on purpose to not listen, but I must admit, I really need to improve my communications skills with my Teenage Son, because being mindful, means, that we do not let our thoughts drift to what we did the other day or plan to do later on. It means we tune in fully to another person, and try to understand what is being communicated, without imposing our own ideas, judgments, of feelings. Julia T Wood (2010) says, “ Mindfulness starts with the decision to attend fully to another. Physically, this is signified by paying attention, adopting an involved posture, keeping eye contact, and indication interest in what the other person says (Bolton, 1986)”. She also goes on to say, “In addition, mindfulness enhances the effectiveness of the others person’s communication.” She thinks, that when we people think we are listening, that people will elaborate more on their ideas and will be more expressive. I must say that I agree. If I feel someone is not paying attention to me, I will usually turn to what they are looking at and just stop
Steven Henagar’s College
Teresa Palacios
Communication Arts
Dani Liese
Assignment Issue Date: Week 3
Being Mindful Listening
“Mindfulness is a choice. It is not a talent that some people have and others don’t.”
Abstract
The very first step in listening is the decision to be mindful. Mindfulness is being present, fully in the moment.
I knew, I was in for a beating as soon as I started to read this subject on mindfulness. It is definitively an area where I can use some improvement, especially with my 14 year old. My 14 year old, his name is David. David often comes up to me, while my mind is busy thinking of all the crap I have to do, while washing dishes or something. He just randomly comes up to me and starts telling me stuff, while I am totally zoned out. And then, seconds or minutes later I’ll be like, “hu, what did you say”. He absolutely hates it. I don’t do it on purpose to not listen, but I must admit, I really need to improve my communications skills with my Teenage Son, because being mindful, means, that we do not let our thoughts drift to what we did the other day or plan to do later on. It means we tune in fully to another person, and try to understand what is being communicated, without imposing our own ideas, judgments, of feelings. Julia T Wood (2010) says, “ Mindfulness starts with the decision to attend fully to another. Physically, this is signified by paying attention, adopting an involved posture, keeping eye contact, and indication interest in what the other person says (Bolton, 1986)”. She also goes on to say, “In addition, mindfulness enhances the effectiveness of the others person’s communication.” She thinks, that when we people think we are listening, that people will elaborate more on their ideas and will be more expressive. I must say that I agree. If I feel someone is not paying attention to me, I will usually turn to what they are looking at and just stop
References: Julia T Wood, Lineberger Distingushed Professor of Humanities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Author of; 6th addition Interpersonal Communication Everyday Encounters, Copywriter 2010 Delgado, L., Guerra, P., Perakakis, P., Vera, M., del Paso, G., & Vila, J.. (2010). Treating chronic worry: Psychological and physiological effects of a training programmed based on mindfulness. Behavior Research and Therapy, 48(9), 873. Retrieved August 20, 2010, from Psychology Module. (Document ID: 2108033771).