Listen to Yourself
Welcome to our ongoing mindfulness journey at Fishing Without Bait! We are dedicated to living a life free from expectations, anxiety, and worry in our fast-paced world. Today we delve deeper into the meaning of mindfulness and explore the art of conversation. We previously discussed various aspects of mindfulness, including paying attention on purpose, finding uniqueness in each moment, and the concept of time as currency.
The Importance of Listening: These are like chapters in a book, almost. It's an evolving experience, intentionally repetitive to reinforce our message and aid in our collective growth. That’s how you learn. That’s why they say the phone number five (5) times at the end of a car commercial. We happen to have a more mindful “phone number” for you to remember.
Our goal is to genuinely help individuals. We all have deeply ingrained patterns of behavior and thought that form well-traveled pathways in our minds. While comfortable, these patterns may not lead us to the most productive or beneficial destinations. We aim to guide people through the overgrown forest of their thoughts, helping them create new paths towards health, wellness, and happiness. Living a life worth living means embracing each moment with intensity and authenticity.
The Inner Critic and the Art of Listening: Today's thoughts consider a crucial element of conversation – listening. Did you ever experience a conversation where you felt unheard?
Definitely - especially in today's technologically driven world, distractions like cell phones often hinder active listening. It's disheartening when someone you're talking to is engrossed in their phone instead of being present.
Eighty percent of conversation is listening, yet we often overlook its significance. Communication, relationships, and social media are all about connecting with others. However, before we can truly engage with others, we must first establish a connection with ourselves. Many of us don't listen to our inner selves. Over time, we develop an inner critic, influenced by external comments and our own self-judgment. That inner critic can be relentless. It questions our abilities and creates self-doubt, preventing us from realizing our potential. It tends to focus on what we can't do rather than what we can do. We must question whose voice that is and where it originated. The inner critic often dominates our thoughts, drowning out any positive self-talk. But we can learn to address and reframe these thoughts by becoming the observer behind the thinker.
Embracing Positive Self-Talk: We need to step back and realize that we are not our thoughts. By practicing mindfulness, we become more aware of our thoughts and the harshness of our inner critic. From this detached perspective, we can start nurturing a more authentic self and engage in positive self-talk. Many people may find it strange to talk to themselves, but this self-reflection and dialogue are crucial to fostering growth and self-compassion. Being kind to ourselves is essential. Unfortunately, we often become our worst critics, constantly pushing ourselves to meet societal expectations.
We need to remember that nobody is perfect, and it's okay to make mistakes. The unreasonable expectations we impose on ourselves only create unnecessary guilt. Instead, we should celebrate small steps and progress, embracing the journey rather than fixating on the end result.
Nurturing Your Authentic Self: Let's focus on tending to our inner foundation. Like a tree with deep roots, we must nurture ourselves from within. It's not selfish to prioritize self-care; it allows us to better care for others. By setting the intention to love and care for ourselves, we begin watering those roots. This mindful approach involves addressing our inner critic, understanding that we are fallible, and taking small steps towards personal growth.
We're all in recovery from something. Everyone has their battles and struggles, regardless of how picture-perfect their lives may seem on the surface. We must learn to be kinder to ourselves and practice self-compassion. It's not about achieving perfection but embracing our authentic selves and treating ourselves with love and kindness. By doing something small and kind for ourselves each day, we can gradually build a stronger foundation for personal growth.
Final Thoughts: In our ongoing mindfulness journey, we've explored the art of conversation and the importance of active listening. We've discussed the impact of the inner critic and the significance of positive self-talk. By nurturing our authentic selves and practicing self-compassion, we can break free from the cycle of self-judgment and cultivate a life worth living. Remember, this is a process, and we're all continuously evolving. Let's be kind to ourselves and embark on this journey towards greater self-awareness and inner peace.
Until next time, this is Fishing Without Bait.
To explore more of this concept, check out our related podcast episode.
