Our regular response when we great people is a "hello" and an "I'm good". But what if we delved one layer more. What would we really say? "My daughter has her first dance recital tonight, and I am really excited for her" or "I am really stressing about a meeting I have this afternoon". The more details we provide, the greater the chance of connecting with our listener. It is our opportunity to show our textured human side and in return we can allow more space into the woven material of our spirit. Sharing our inner thoughts an emotions is such a gift. Think of any animal species that has the chance to share deep thoughts with one another, does such an exchange of information exist? Celebrate this gift that we have, and tell someone a thought that has been on your mind.
We can do this more easily online, but what in person? Do you share your thoughts with people?
I agree with you, but you know that. One key thing, however, is discernment. Some will misuse what we share. That's why it's important for me to know who is safe to be close to and avoiding those who aren't.
ReplyDeleteI love intimacy. This happens when we go one or several layers deeper. The post I wrote this morning (Thursday), "In An Area of Growth" deals with this subject.
On my profile, I mention my love for in-depth conversations. I had one tonight. For two-and-a-half hours, a friend and I discussed the signals of pain he's experiencing, while sharing a meal at a restaurant. It was a great time, very fulfilling.
We also celebrated the tremendous growth he's enjoying. Our deep, rich, heart-felt conversation fed my soul, and it did his, too.
Congratulations on your talk last night!
Hope to see you over at my place soon.
Those deep conversations can allow waves of healing to occur. I feel so honoured when someone shares their story with me. I may not have the great advice stashed in my pocket like you do, but I feel by giving them a trusted ear, I am helping somehow.
DeleteThanks for the congrats, I thought of you before I got up on that stage!
It's funny you mention this. I watched a commercial recently in which people were all sitting down at a bar one by one. The bartender would say "hey how are you" and the people would always respond 'doing well thank you and yourself?" and the bartender would say "doing good!". Basically noone was really saying how they were doing. Then one guy sits down, and in response to the bartender's greeting begins to spout about exactly how he is and how his day went. Everyone begins giving him awkward stares and such. It's quite funny but it actually made me think. We rarely tell people exactly what's on our mind when people ask how we are or how our day has been.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, depending on my mood, when someone asks me how I'm doing, I smile and say, "Do you really want to know?"
DeleteThey usually laugh.
How true is that hey? How deep are people willing to go? We are often shocked when someone decides to open up. But that's good, it shakes us up a little bit....shifts things around!
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