“Are you defending the truth? The truth needs no defense. You are defending yourself or the illusion of yourself. Let go of ego and let your expanded awareness guide you through any kind of conflict and you will quickly feel the way toward resolution.” – Eckhart Tolle
Day 19 – Getting to Yes The Creative Way
“Deep listening is miraculous for both listener and speaker. When someone receives us with open-hearted, non-judging, intensely interested listening, our spirits expand.” – Sue Patton Thoele
CENTERING THOUGHT
I want a “Yes” that’s good for everyone
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Sanskrit Mantra is “Ma Vid Visha Vahai” (May harmony prevail)
This Mantra evokes that together we always find agreement and understanding.
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
Along the road to finding creative solutions, it is inevitable that there will be some challenges that cross your path. To address these obstacles that arise from other people, it is important to always maintain an attentive and respectful awareness.
Today’s meditation shows us that creative solutions overcome difficulties through listening, respecting, and opening up to a broader perspective that incorporates and supports both points of view. This is what it means to get to “yes” in a creative way.
JOURNAL QUESTIONS
1. Think of a current conflict in which I cannot find an agreement with someone and write 2 ways I can turn a negative into a positive (show more respect, make them feel that we are equals by asking for their thoughts? Avoid making judgmental comments?)
2. Using the same conflict, and imagining that I am the other person, express what they’re experiencing, their needs and what they feel and want. Write about how this changes my perspective.
3. Write down the top 3 things I want as an outcome from this conflict and arrange them with most important first. Reflect on why this thing is important and set all other outcomes aside. How can I clearly show the other person a way to cooperate on this one thing that would benefit both of us – and make it clear. (i.e. if I want peace – make it clear and start acting in a peaceful manner. Ask the other person if they want peace too? Discuss what peace personally means to each of us.) Consider encouraging both sides of the collaboration by communicating what you’ve written down with the other person.
4. Reflect further on your experience today.
Note:
When we listen with our creative spirit open, listen with our heart, there is always a path to yes.