Stillness: Study 20
December. A perfect time for practicing the skills involved in listening. When we slow down, we can cultivate these skills and use them all throughout the year. Concentrated listening, listening with the sole purpose of hearing, is an important task. In this way, we can listen to our own heart. In this way, we can listen to others. With compassion and understanding, we listen to hear and not act, just receive. Listening like this unlocks doors. Listening like this relieves suffering. Compassionate listening, listening that allows the revelation of the heart, brings transformation and healing.
My silence gives space for deep listening.
In stillness, I listen. I am receiver of words. In the stillness, I hear. My compassion expands.
“In the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper of the heart giving strength to weakness, courage to fear, hope to despair.”
Making a Connection Through Art Journaling
I am posting this short video showing you how I cultivate stillness through art and nature. Enjoy!
“Deep listening is the kind of listening that helps us to keep compassion alive while the other speaks. . . you have in mind only one idea, one desire: to listen in order to give the other person the chance to speak out and suffer less.”
Blessings
Thank you for joining me today. Please leave a comment below; I would love to hear from you. If you are drawing snowflakes with me, please leave pictures in the comments or post them on Instagram and #themustardseednews so I can be sure to see them. Sending you love and light ~ Peace for now ~
December Reading List
Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise by Thich Nhat Hanh
Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle
Too Deep for Words by Thelma Hall
Snow Crystals (Dover Pictorial Archive) by W.A. Bentley
“Be Still”
Today I am thankful for the stillness I can find even in the midst of everything around me.