We Simply Wait for Our Chance to Speak

If you observe the conversations around you, you’ll notice that, often, what
many of us do is simply wait for our chance to speak. We’re not really
listening to the other person, but simply waiting for an opening to express
our own view. We often complete other people’s sentences, or say things
like, “Yeah, yeah,” or “I know,” very rapidly, urging them to hurry up so
that we can have our turn.

This harried form of communication encourages us to criticize points of
view, overreact, misinterpret meaning, and form opinions, all before
ourfellow communicator is even finished speaking. No wonder
we are so often annoyed, bothered, and irritated with one another.
Sometimes, with our poor listening skills, it’s a miracle that we have any
friends at all!

You’ll be pleasantly amazed at the softer reactions and looks of surprise as
you let others completely finish their thought before you begin yours.
Often, you will be allowing someone to feel listened to for the very first
time. You will sense a feeling of relief coming from the person to whom you
are speaking – and a much calmer, less rushed feeling between the two of
you.

No need to worry that you won’t get your turn to speak --- you will. In
fact, it will be more rewarding to speak because the person you are speaking
to will pick up on your respect and patience and will begin to do the same.

Visit us at
www.folknet.in

Tips for keeping Good Health

Take 10 - 30 minutes walk everyday.

Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is
manufactured in plants. Take more of sprouts and salads.

Drink plenty of water.

Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

Forget issues of the past. Don't remind yourself of mistakes of the past.
That will ruin your present happiness.

Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control.

Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply
part of the curriculum that appear and fade but the lessons you learn will
last a lifetime.

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is
all about.

What other people think of you is none of your business.

However good or bad a situation is, it will change.


Visit
www.folknet.in

Story of a tea cup

"There was a time when I was just a dumb lump of red clay. Then one day my
master came. He took me, brought me home, rolled and pounded me on a wooden
table. Again and again, he poked his fingers into me until finally I yelled
out: 'Don't do that! Leave me alone!' But he only smiled and gently said:
"Not yet!"

Then, whoommmm! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly spun around
and around and around until I lost all my sense of direction: 'Stop it;
don't you see that I'm getting sick? Quickly, take me from the spinning
wheel!' But the master only nodded in understanding and quietly said: "Not
yet!"

Then he placed me carefully into an oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled
and knocked and pounded at the door: 'It is hotter than hell - I'm burning
to ashes. Please get me out of here before it is too late.' I could only
read his lips as he shook his head from side to side and silently
pronounced, "Not yet!"

After I had cooled down he carefully picked me up, looked at me and brushed
some dust away. Then he brought the colors! The fumes were horrible!
'Please... you have no mercy! Please, Stop it!' But he only shook his head
and said: "Not yet!"

An hour or later he came back and placed a mirror before me and said: "Look
at yourself!" And I did.What I saw amazed me. 'That's not me!' I said. 'It
is too beautiful...' With a very compassionate voice he spoke: "This is what
you are meant to be," and then he explained: "I know it hurt you when I
rolled and kneaded you on the table. But if I had not gotten the air out of
you, you would have broken. I knew you must have lost all your sense of
orientation when I was spinning you. But without this you would never have
come into this form. I know the fumes of the colors were intolerable when I
painted you all over. But if I had not done that, you would not have had any
color in your life."

God is the potter and we are the clay. He will mold us and will expose us to
just enough pressures of just the right kinds that we will become a perfect
piece of His liking.


Visit
www.folknet.in

Seek First to Understand and Then be Understood

Essentially, “seek first to understand” implies that you become more interested in understanding others and less in having other people understand you. It means mastering the idea that if you want quality, fulfilling communication that is nourishing to you and others; understanding others must come first.

When you understand where people are coming from, what they are trying to say, what’s important to them, and so forth, being understood flows naturally; it falls into place with virtually no effort. When you reverse this process, however (which is what most of us do most of the time), you are putting the cart before the horse.

When you try to be understood before you understand, the effort you exert will be felt by you and the person or people you are trying to reach. Communication will break down, and you may end up with a battle of two egos.

Seeking first to understand isn’t about who’s right or wrong. It is a philosophy of effective communication. When you practice this method you’ll notice that the people you communicate with will feel listened to, heard, and understood. This will translate into better and more loving relationships.


Visit
www.folknet.in