What is My Truth Today...WMITT?
Today
I had the opportunity to experience genuineness in action. We all get in the groove or grind of daily life -- thinking our own thoughts, going our own way -- get up, go to work, work, interact, lunch, work, interact, go home, interact, go to sleep. We do that day in and day out. Here is the thing that stood out to me today...the quality of the interact part...
Today
I had lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in awhile. We took the time to have a real conversation and I realized how he is good at that...generating quality discussions -- the meaningful stuff -- not the gabfest where you talk about how much you paid for the new shoes at Macy's -- or the bare your soul kind of discussion that can often violate everyone's sense of privacy. Our conversation had depth -- it was an simple exchange of commentary about our lives -- what we are doing now, interests for the future and appreciation of some shared history. It wasn't fluff, because he took the time to ask questions and move the conversation in a meaningful direction. Why? Because he was genuinely interested. He listened... because he was genuinely interested. He asked questions... because he was genuinely interested. He took the time to express appreciation... because he was genuinely interested. Wow, what a concept.
I am reminded about how often we talk about nothing just so we can fill up the space and get on to the next important thing. How often we talk about the same problems, situations, work or people -- over and over and over again--not with any expectation, but because it seems to cover our obligation to be social. It is our own safe form of blah, blah, blah.
Today I discovered that the somewhat lost art of genuine interest improves relationships. Sincere focus on what the other guy is saying, makes the other guy feel like he or she has something worthwhile to say. Who doesn't want to feel that way? Hey, next time you are with a friend or family member or colleague, tune in, focus, listen and ask questions. I've already started and I could tell the other person felt pretty good -- me too.
