Stop... Drop... and Listen (from Coach Linda Bush blog)

Wild women are warm, generous and wonderful. Recently I was leading a group session and I asked the women what some of their goals were – not geared completely on physical/health goals, but life goals. After all, we are multi-faceted and multi-dimensional treasures, just like diamonds! One woman stated a goal I have never heard before in all my coaching time. I’ll call her Jane Doe, because if I gave her a shout out like I’d love to do, she would be terribly embarrassed (but you know who you are, dearie!). Anyway, Jane said, “I want to be able to give 100% of my undivided attention to each person who comes into my path.” W…O…W… this is her gift to each person she meets in order that they feel loved and special.

I gotta tell you, I was completely blown away. In this hamster-wheel world of pursuing Olympic speed multi-tasking madness (which, by the way, is proving not to be such a great idea after all), Jane has found a better way – a simple act which almost stops time itself, like a bubble surrounding Jane and the person to whom she is giving this beautiful offering of herself. I can personally attest to how warm and cared for I feel whenever I’m around Jane. I always look forward to being with her, and always come away feeling happier and blessed.

On my drive home that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I began to examine my interaction with others, and realized how lacking I was in giving someone my full time/attention. I may be listening, but often I’m doing something at the same time, my eyes are looking around, or I’m mentally elsewhere planning what I’m going to do next. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not a complete oaf, but I became painfully aware of my scatteredness/duplicity in listening skills. Jane’s goal was inspirational, and got under my skin.

So… the next morning I vowed to make the same kind of commitment, to run towards the same goal as Jane. That’s the nice thing about positive, inspiration goals – they can be shared! I have begun to stop what I am doing when someone comes to see me and I give them my full, exclusive, unbroken attention. I turn towards them, focus on them, meet their eyes and listen. I avoid thinking of what I’m going to say in response to whatever they’re saying, I put down whatever I’m doing, and I’m just fully there for them. To me this is one of the simplest, loving acts I can give to another human being. My time and my attention.

I invite you to consider flexing your focus muscles, wild women, and fully give yourself into the conversation with the people you meet today. Stop… and listen… and gift them with the experience of walking away being a blessed person because they have been with you. After all, you are an amazing, warm, and wonderful wild woman!!

Blessings,
Linda