Too Much Talking

Hello, Champions! It's been a while, I know. I've been doing more observing than typing this past month. Something similar to what I'm sharing with y'all today. Calvin Coolidge once said, "Nobody has ever listened their way out of a job." I'll go a step further and say that no one has ever listened their way out of a blessing, or a win in life. For the most part, humans so arrogantly say too much, write checks their a%$es can't cash, or just plain hit under the belt when deep down, we know better. Which brings me to emotional intelligence.

How emotionally intelligent are you? Are you aware of your feelings and your ability to hold on to things for far too long? Do you take things personal and listen to respond rather than listen to hear the other person/people talking to you? Do people disagreeing with you put you on edge and change the course of where you wanted to go with the conversation? If you said yes to any of these questions, you probably lack the emotional intelligence it takes not to spew your feelings all over everyone even if someone tries to do the same to you. When people have emotional temper-tantrums, it's best to move out of the way. What they have going on inside has nothing to do with you and the same goes for you. Your emotions and feelings and how you process them have nothing to do with the outside world, so check yourself in the meantime.

Nonetheless, when all else fails, as Beyonce once said, "LISTEN." Not only to others but to yourself. You'll never not know what to do next as long as you're listening. Be quiet sometimes. In silence is where we get answers. While we're talking, we are not taking anything in. Bill Nye said, "Every person you encounter knows something that you don't," so treat every moment of encounter with someone as precious and as if you will learn something new about them or the world in general. After all, we learn through the experience of listening and observing not talking or responding. Assume that you will learn something new!

Here is a list of the 10 things that makes a great listener as well as the TEDx I got it from! Peace, Love, and Hair Grease!

1. DON'T MULTI-TASK

2. DON'T PUNTIFICATE

3. USE OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS (when, what, how, where, why)

4. GO WITH THE FLOW

5. IF YOU DON'T KNOW, SAY YOU DON'T KNOW (No fact fakers!)

6. DON'T EQUATE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH OTHERS

7. TRY NOT TO REPEAT YOURSELF (If you like hearing yourself talk, talk to yourself)

8. STAY OUT OF THE WEEDS (Specific dates and numbers don't matter)

9. LISTEN (If your mouth is open, you are not listening!)

10. BE SINCERE, BE BREIF, BE SEATED (Prepare to be amazed)