There is nothing more I can say than speak less and listen more. Through the past 4 years as a yoga instructor I have learned to listen. Listen to others, listen to my body, listen to sounds.
Historically, I am a very hardheaded and an ignorant person. My teenage years defines the word ignorant. I was not a listener of people who advised me, who took the time to teach me, who knew information I needed and wanted. I was independent in nature with a desire to do everything on my own. “My way was the right way” pretty much summed up my attitude.
My learning experiences in the past couple years has taught me that I do not know everything. I do need help and not just with learning about a website, or how to grow a business, or how to balance on one finger (I’ll let you know how well that works out…). It is acknowledging when to peel away layers of ego and listen. The moment I want to open my mouth and interrupt someone is the moment when I look directly into their eyes and actively listen to the depth of information coming out of their mouth. Whether it is about life, about a experience, about feelings, about useless facts, there is always something to learn.
In my own practice the listening part is the sound of my breath. Honestly, it sounds like the ocean. A place of oceanic sound for miles and miles. It is said to be one of the most calming, relaxing places. Did you know that? It is what I learn from a random fact find, I believe nature and hikes were number one. Put me on a beach over a hike any day! Next time you go to the beach listen. Close your eyes and take away one sense, rely on the rest to tell your own story. Knowledge.
My body is now viewed as a gem. It is the only one like it on this planet and it is the only one I get. I was a gym rat in high school into my late college years. I could fight through the pain and pressure just to get one more rep in. Now, I’m lucky if I get a single rep in! It’s listening to my body and acknowledging it is not strong enough yet to lift weights intensely as I have in the past. I have injured myself quite frequently through the years and it is because I don’t know when to stop training. Finally, I pulled my lower back to the point I could not get out of bed or even walk. It was THE most pain I have ever felt. I was unable to enjoy the things I love. Walking, running, swimming, yoga, cycling, etc. It all is a important part of my life and after my experience with a brutally painful injury I now see my body a bit different. It needs patience and requires kindness. I learned my body will tell me what it wants to do and when I push a little too hard I face the consequences. Taking away things I love and enjoy. Knowledge.
Asking for help. People love to talk. If you have a question, ask. No harm in it at all. People are forms of walking knowledge and a directory book. It is funny because when I speak to my student’s in class there is always someone that knows someone that knows a guy for brushing cats twice a day as a business. True story. We are all full of information, when I listen to what the cat guy has to say I learned how important it is to groom their fur because it can start to clump and create huge knots. Kind of like people with long hair. Cats are the exact same way. I just thought they shed and that was it. I was wrong. Knowledge.
It is the little things that I pride myself knowing because I listened. I educate myself with the little things from cats to the big things, myself. There is an abundance of useless and important details to be told and absorbed each day. The moment I want to open my mouth before the other person is done is knowledge in itself.
Knowledge doesn’t mean understanding the math to build a rocket ship. It is about actively listening. Listening to the sound of your breathe and the power it has to ease tension. Listening to other people about useless facts you might have the chance to pass on. Connecting with other people as they tell you “I have someone who can hep you.”
I have learned a whole lot more by keep my mouth shut and listening to the surrounds noises, whether it be nature or public.
P.S. careful who you decide to ask “how is your day?” to. I now know some imitate detail about the lady behind me as CVS today. Knowledge!