Have you ever wanted to say something but held back?
Perhaps a harsh truth, or something you need to get off your chest? Or you do say it, but the discomfort shifts the focus to you instead of the message?
I certainly have. In-fact come next month I might be experiencing it more often: I am facilitating a mindfulness course for people going through cancer, where I ask them to soften their fear and resentment towards it. I have no experience of cancer myself so, who the &£%^% am I to do that?!
To improve how I deliver uncomfortable messages, I am practicing “loving-kindness” or “Metta” meditation, which is part of most 8-week mindfulness courses. It cultivates goodwill towards myself and others. Successfully done it creates a subtle but powerful shift: when I tell participants that they need to befriend their pain, they should think “Hmm, maybe he’s onto something…” rather than "Ignorant !$$@ what does he know?!"
Why am I sharing this? Because I need to practice - and writing this blog keeps me accountable.
Author: JD
Image by Lenka Novotná from Pixabay
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