There’s a quality of listening
That I really value.
A listening that is free
From my own stories.
And when my stories emerge
I honor them by acknowledging
The heart of what they bring.
Once they’ve been heard
An inner-peace and quietness ensues.
An openness,
A caring curiosity of you appears.
Like a strong breeze
Suddenly opening the shutters.
I know that in that moment
We are Joined by the Holy Spirit
Because I was willing
To open my eyes to my Truth.
I am fully present
And available to listen
To whatever is on your heart.
I am anchored in my Self
With the help of my Friend.
There’s a quality of listening
where I show my care
that I really value
by acknowledging you’re there.
I’m present in my body,
my mind is relatively still.
It doesn’t matter what you say,
I hear the gold inside through you.
I listen silently for the heart
of what you need —
curiously imagining
what is seeking fulfillment.
Not deterred by strategies,
those preferences of your wants.
There’s something even more beautiful
That’s worth a patient search,
A dig further down below the dirt.
It might be frustrating that i’m not giving in
to the perspective of what you think.
There’s deeper meaning in what you feel,
And in the experience of why you’re there.
With your consent we’ll go beyond the words
for the gift that can set us free
we'll go as slowly as you want
for the potential to connect.
Your intention to be heard
is met by my willingness to listen —
internal signals that I'm aware.
I’ll entertain your words
until it’s time for me to speak.
We both have a need for balance
An agreement we must keep.
I’ll let you know, when I’m ready to switch
with consideration for your care.
Something is up for me,
So you must prepare
to hear my heart as equally precious
as it felt for you to be heard —
to be gotten is delicious.
An experience that we must share.
I speak the gift of my truth with compassion
My responsible words to own what’s there.
You didn’t cause what’s in my heart
I'm just informing you because I care.
Our inner rooms contain a mystery
We pick the flowers that radiate light
Our ancestors tended the orchard
The village needs them to regain sight.
If we do this a few times
Seeking harmony within our flow
a new music will start to play
as our hearts begin to glow.
We’ll be closer as a result
It takes patience, humility and skill.
when we get to a place of connection.
it’s not a science, but a wise practice of will.
When communication is done responsibly
an honoring of each other’s gold
a new intuition emerges,
And the world moves
beyond the violence of old.
By Jaime L. Prieto, Jr.
Inspired by Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D., author of “Nonviolent Communication - A language of Life”
© 2023 Jaime L. Prieto, Jr., CompassionateConnecting.com, All Rights Reserved.