Wisdom of Self-Containment

I just love Daily OM, such inspiring and motivating articles, but also so many that can really help to create a more harmonious well being.

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You may feel righteous as you express your opinions with zeal. While your outspoken manner could attract like minded people, you may also notice others drifting away from you. Although sharing your opinions with others can stimulate lively discussions, you may also want to consider applying the wisdom of self-containment. If you focus more time on listening rather than speaking, you will gain a deeper understanding of the people around you. One way to do this is by challenging yourself to not share your opinion unless someone specifically asks for it. Although it may be difficult to hold back at the beginning, you will eventually realize the benefits of simply observing and listening to others.

By making an effort to listen more than we speak, we establish a deeper level of communication with others. Most of us connect more with the concept of verbalizing our thoughts, but the larger part of communication involves listening to others and hearing the messages they wish to share. As we learn to contain our need for attention or validation and simply focus on being receptive to others, we realize that our understanding of them deepens. At the same time, our willingness to listen without interrupting makes others feel closer to us, encouraging the perception that something meaningful was exchanged during our conversation. By holding back your comments and listening to others, you give yourself the opportunity to create more valuable interactions with others.

Daily OM