The Art of Meaningful Conversation
The degree of meaning and fulfillment you experience in your
life is a direct result of your level of engagement and
conversation with the world around you and with yourself.
The poet David Whyte tells us there are three key courageous
conversations to engage in on a regular basis: the conversation
with your work, with others, and with yourself. He suggests
being in daily disciplined relationship or conversation with
your work to ensure that it is not too small or limiting for
you. This entails being attentive to your work, mindful, and
fully engaged in what you are doing, so that you will notice if
your work brings out the best in you, and if it is using the
best of your talents in the service of a greater good.
Dialogue with others is becoming a missing art. If you are in
business, engaging in thoughtful and stimulating conversations
will enliven you and attract people who want to be around you.
It's the mark of a true leader. People love doing business with
people they trust and connect with on an emotional level. This
can only happen through conversation and making time for the
more "human moments".
Conversations in your personal life sustain the relationships
with your partner, children, relatives, and friends. Without
those conversations, we lose the deep connection over time. In
the midst of our busy lives, remembering to make the time for
what is truly important, and carving out personal time as a high
priority, will enliven our relationships.
There is deep value in having daily conversations with yourself
to reflect on how you are living and working, to witness your
thoughts, and to learn from daily lessons. Taking time to listen
to the still small voice of your intuition and soul will guide
you in the next right action to take. In the busyness of our
modern world, our inner voice is often drowned out by the
constant noise, unless we take the time to be silent and listen.
Put yourself in conversation with the outer edges of your
existence - the frontier territories that beckon to you to
listen. Your soul thrives on these conversations. Make time in
your busy life to open the curtain to this vast world that you
most often fail to notice.
Have the courage to create a meaningful life by forming an
intention to be in dialogue with your inner and outer worlds on
a regular basis. ~~~~~
There are many conversations to have on a regular basis in order
to live a truly fulfilling life. Make time to have regular and
sustained conversations with:
- self - work - others - nature - inner wisdom; intuition - the
universal energy, divine life force, sacred mystery, great
mother, God - whatever name you use for something larger outside
of yourself.
Meaningful conversation with your work would let you know on a
daily basis if the work you are doing fully engages your heart
and soul. Does it bring you more alive, or deaden your senses?
Do you come home from work enthusiastic or exhausted? Are you
using the best of your talents in your work?
In your personal and family relationships, what courageous
conversations do you need to initiate? What is the cost to you
and others of not having those conversations?
You can engage in conversation with yourself through silent
reflection, journaling, listening to your intuition, any
creative pursuit - even through dancing and movement. Five or
ten minutes a day intentionally connection with your inner self
can go a long way to re-establishing this inner connection. ~~~~~
Take out your journal, and write your answers to these
questions:
- What would it take for me to "fall in love with my future" in
each of the three areas of self, work, and other relationships?
- What steps do I need to take to feel more connected to myself
and the world around me?
- What do I need to change to be doing worthwhile, creative work
that uses the best of my strengths and talents daily? What
changes can I make in my current work to bring alive the best of
myself?
~~~~~~ Copyright