I will begin this message by asking a few questions: Have you ever felt the need to vent or get some personal feelings off of your chest? Have you ever felt strongly about something that you wanetd someone else to understand? Have you ever felt the need for empathy?
I think that we can all can answer yes to those questions and there is nothing wrong with wanted to be heard, understood or listened to. We want to know that the person that we are communicating with is giving us their full attention without responding with words that they think we we want to hear.
There are times that silence is truly golden, because to be paid attention to is all a part of communication. We can not solve every problem that someone has, but we can always help by being a part of that support system that they need when situations make them feel weak.
"You don't always have to be heard to be present." Make sure you are truly there for the people who matters most to you, and maybe even someone who just needs someone else present for the moment.
SG
Support Others With Your Presence
"The purpose of therapy is not to remove suffering but TO MOVE THROUGH IT to an enlarged consciousness that can sustain the polarity of painful opposites."
-- James Hollis
How do we support others who are suffering?
When we understand how soul works through us, we begin to see how pain generates the impulse to change. We see that our aim in supporting someone is NOT to get rid of their pain and suffering. Instead, we want to assist them to understand what the pain is trying to teach them -- to find meaning in their distress.
Often, all we need do is be fully present to them. It also helps to be present to our own experience and genuine in our feelings. Living our own truth helps create the space for the other person to live theirs.
"The first duty of love is to listen."
-- Paul Tillich
"With the gift of listening comes the gift of healing."
-- Catherine de Hueck Doherty
Posted By: Emmanuel Brown
Sunday, August 17th 2008 at 11:10PM
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