Trans4mind Home Page

Favorite Inspiring Quotes

Authentic Listening

Commentary by Peter Shepherd
Listening
“An open ear is the only believable sign of an open heart.” ~ David Augsburger
Obviously listening is important. The biggest communication problem arrises if we do not listen to understand but rather to formulate our reply.... not really listening at all. However, just listening only is too one-way, and it misses out on the important elements of feedback and discussion. This makes the overall communication slow and unproductive and the non-reply can easily be taken to mean agreement by the originator. To be effective, communication needs to be two-way, with both giving time for the other to speak and listening sincerely.
“I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening.” ~ Larry King
Our growth in general depends on opening up - to learn from our experiences, from our emotions, from our intuition and inner guidance, from other people's viewpoints and discoveries. To listen is to be in the present - and to be meaningfully present. Indeed, as Paul Tillich says, "The first duty of love is to listen."
Listening
“The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.” ~ Anthony Robbins
Listening is key, of course. Both to others (not cutting in, giving the other time and being genuinely interested to learn the other's point of view) - and within ourselves (opening up and being conscious of our feelings).
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” ~ Winston Churchill
Why courage to listen? Because we are opening up to alternative ideas and as a result our precious beliefs and fixed ideas may be threatened and our ego rightness put in question. But without genuine listening there is no chance of real progress being made. Great men and women - and our best leaders - are not afraid to speak from the heart nor to listen generously. Listening is often the only thing needed to help someone, so that they do not feel alone. And comforting someone by simply listening and caring is something we can all do.
“I have been a seeker and I still am, but I stopped asking the books and the stars. I started listening to the teaching of my Soul.” ~ Rumi
You need books and stars to understand the world, but when it comes to you, and spiritual truth in general, the answers are to be found within. When you listen to your inner knowing, expressed in deep authentic feelings, from the heart.
Listening

Here’s some further reading on this theme...

Deep Listening - by John Earle

Many of us want to be of service in the world, and are inspired to make our lives and our work useful to others. The desire to help others is noble, however, our most effective and powerful service is offered from detachment rather than based in fear. The detachment we speak of here is defined by Angeles Arrien as "the capacity to care deeply or maintain compassion from an objective place." Continues...

Favorite Inspiring Quotes

With Commentary by Peter Shepherd
Ability — Abundance — Action — Adaptability — Adversity — Affirmations — Age — Animals — Appreciation — Attitude — Awakening — Awareness — Balance — Beauty — Begin — Being In the Present — Being Yourself — Belief — Be the Change — Birth & Rebirth — Blessings — Career — Challenges in Life — Change the World — Change Your Life — Character — Children — Choice — Civilization — Common Sense — Communication in Relationships — Community — Compassion — Conscience — Courage — Confidence — Connection — Creativity — Criticism — Curiosity — Death — Desire — Determination — Discipline — Diversity — Doing Good — Dreams — Ego — Emotional Intelligence — Enlightenment — Entrepreneur — Evolution & Progress — Excellence — Experience — Excuses — Failure — Family — Fashion & Conformity — Fear — Forgiveness — Freedom — Free Will — Friendship — Get Started — Gibran on Marriage — Giving — God is... — Gratitude — Greatness — Hard Work — Habits — Happiness — Healing — Health — Heart — Heart & Work — Home — Hope — Humility — Humor — Ideals — Imagination— Independence — Inner Peace — Integrity — Inner Guidance — Inquiring Mind — Introvert/Extrovert — Intention — Involvement — Journaling — Judgmental — Kindness — Karma — Knowing Yourself — Knowledge — Leadership — Learning — Letting Life Unfold — Liberty — Life — Light of Love — Listening — Listening II — Love — Loyalty & Marriage — Manifestation — Meaning — Meditation — Memories — Mind — Mindfulness — Miracles — Mistakes — Motivation — Music — Nature — Non-Resistance — Old Age — Oneness — Optimism — Parenting — Passion — Patience — Peace — Personal Growth — Pets — Potential — Positive Approach — Possibilities — Prayer — Presence — Privacy — Quality — Reaching the End — Relaxation — Releasing Emotions — Religion — Responsibility — Risk — Romance — Self-Judgment — Self-Love — Service — Sexuality — Shine Consciously — Silence — Smile! — Spiritual Intelligence — Sports — Stereotypes — Stress — Suffering — Support — Surrender — Thanksgiving — Time — Togetherness — Tolerance — Transformation — Transitions in Your Life — Travel — Trust — Truth — Ups and Downs of Life — Unconditional Love — Values — Vision — Wayne Dyer — Wholeness — Wisdom — Women's Rights — Work-Life Balance — Working Together — Youth — You're Unique!
You'll find good info on many topics using this non-tracking facility:

Our Life Challenges

Transform the Mind
The key challenges we face in life:
HEALING YOURSELF: Find Your Healing Path — Learn to Forgive — Get Over Guilt — Overcome Jealousy & Envy — Let Go of Anger & Frustration — Improve Your Self-Esteem — Overcome Fear & Anxiety — Overcome Bad Habits — Cope with a Major Loss
BEING SUCCESSFUL: Achieve Success — Be a Person of Integrity — Reach Your Goals — Express Yourself Creatively — Find Your Life's Purpose — Present Yourself Well — Find Fulfillment at Work — Work Well in a Team — Be a Leader — Master Money — Empower Others
ENHANCING RELATIONSHIPS: - Have Meaningful Relationships — Develop Social Skills — Establish Boundaries — Express Myself — Ask Powerful Questions — Learn to Listen — Be Non-Judgmental — Resolve Conflict — Create Intimacy
LIFE TRANSITIONS: Learning a New Skill — Making a New Habit — Recovering from Abuse — Financial Crisis — Self-Directed Education — Beginning a New Career — Discovering the Spiritual Path — Holistic Wellness — Mind Development — Promotion at Work — Retirement — Becoming Happy — Human Rights
Plus see these selected resources for specific life challenges:
Transitions — Articles — eBooks — Videos — Coaching Q&As
1000 of the Most Inspiring Quotes:

  Life  Purpose
Spiritual  Awareness
Success and Abundance
Wisdom from the Heart
Happiness and Wellbeing
Communication & Relationships
Motivation and Leadership
Parenting and Education
Emotional Intelligence
Transitions in Life
Social Community
Creativity
Proverbs
Humor

Download a PDF of 'Words of Wisdom' ~
~ Favorite Picture Quotes ~
~ Quotes by Peter Shepherd ~
~ Motivational Wallpapers to Inspire Your Day ~
~ Qualities of a Superior Man According to Confucius ~
Previous Inspiring Quotes of the Day... Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 - Page 4
You'll find good info on many topics using our site search: