Eric's Post

 

Your Place and My Place

 

My soul

My self

My Place

 

Your soul

Your self

Your Place

 

Listening to you about your place

Sharing about me from my place

You and I connect with acceptance

  

 

 



 Listening to "you" I listen to what  you think, feel or believe. When I repeat it to you, I say "you" believe, feel or think and you know I am listening . I may not agree but I am listening.

 

I personally have had a hard time with listening respectfully. My father believed that if he listened too long he was agreeing with that person and that the loudest interrupting voice could always win out. I learned this style well and it took years to overcome it. I know that I respect you when I am listening and that true listening is an art form that I am cultivating.

 

Telling you about me from my place I center myself. I go to my self, my soul. Using the word "I" keeps me there. I do not tell "you" what to do or pretend that I speak the truth. I speak my thoughts, my feelings, my ideas. I tell you about things at my place. Unfortunately the word "I" has taken on selfish or self-absorbed connotations. Yet using that word is critical if you are to understand me and be able to listen to me. You know I am not defining the "truth" or what you should think or do at your place.

 

When I listen to "you" at your place, I accept your thoughts, feelings and ideas. When "I" express my thoughts, feelings and ideas "I" own them as "my place" and give you the best chance to listen to them.

 

Together they are a dymanic duo for healthy communication and relationships. Sometimes your place and my place differ in thoughts and ideas and plans. When you and I honor each other by listening respectfully and expressing ourselves authentically there is often magical understanding and resolution that develops over time from that respectful dialogue.