Are You A Good Listener?

Listening to others seems to be a lost art for most of us these days.
It seems we're all very interested in getting our point of view across
to others, but seldom take the time to hear what others might be thinking.

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a conversation just
waiting for the person talking to take a breath so you can jump in
and share your point of view? Have you ever listened to your children
with your ears closed already knowing what you’re going to say before
you’ve even heard them out?

Half of being a good conversationalist is having the ability to be a
good listener. If all you do when conversing with others is try to
put forth your point of view, you will eventually find your words having
the same effect on you as theirs have had on you; “none”.

Conversation is a big part of developing relationships with others, and
is a give and take proposition. If you do all the talking and constantly
dominate the conversation, you may have the greatest advice or ideas in
the world; and will find that they fall on deaf ears.

When you don’t take the time to listen to others, you make them feel as
if they and their ideas aren’t very important to you; therefore they’re
not very important to you. Not only is that a conversation killer, but
a relationship killer as well.

For some of us who seem to always have something to say and a strong desire
to say it, listening can be a challenge. But, if we are to be great
communicators, we need to learn to slow down and be open to what others
have to say. Remember, speaking is only half of being a good conversationalist,
the other half is listening.

Mike Shanta
All-Round-Success
all-round-success@cox.net

Do You Appreciate What You Have?

I felt compelled to write about appreciation this time since we just recently celebrated Mother’s day, and it got me thinking a lot about appreciation?

Now this is not a snub to fathers; but most dads, including myself, are not quite as nurturing and compassionate as the moms of this world. We have our strengths, and have a very special roll in our families; but without mothers to compensate for our areas of weakness, namely nurturing and compassion, we would have some very miserable children. If you doubt what I’m saying, just ask my children, they’ll tell you.

Our mothers and wives really deserve our utmost appreciation; because they are the heart of the family, and do so much for us. I would now like to take appreciation a step further though, and have you consider if you are an appreciative person in general.

If you would like to read more of this article click
Do You Appreciate What You Have - Continued

Courage

By Mike Shanta

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. ~Ambrose Redmond

Have you any idea just how important and true that quote is? Have you everReally considered what courage is, and whether or not you possess it?

If you were to do a poll, I believe most people would say that they don't have courage. The reason for this is that most people have a misguided idea of what courage is. Most of the time we attribute courage to those soldiers who charge onto the battlefield. We see firemen and police who lay their lives on the line daily and say, "now they have courage". And both of those statements are true, those who lay their lives on the line do have courage. But, is that the only form of courage? ...

Read the complete article at the following link Courage.