Listening is a super power!
One of my favourite poems has these lines,
'I want to know if you can sit with pain
Mine or your own
Without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it'
Often when people talk to us about their 'pain' we feel we must be quick to jump in and fix it. Don't underestimate the power of listening.
Listen with your whole self.
Open yourself to the other. You don't have to take on their pain. All you need to do is not be afraid of it.
Allow the other to just tell it like it is. You don't have to know the answer, the power of being in the moment with someone and really listening is a priceless gift.
Together you can be opened by life's betrayals. Together you can be the power of openness in the presence of pain. This supports you both to withstand the pull of fear, fear that tries to make you close down when you have been hurt. Together your power is to stand amongst the pain and say 'YES' to life and love and laughter.
