Undivided Attention – Oprah & Deepak Meditation Challenge Day 13

On day 13, the miraculous relationships meditation challenge hosted by Oprah and Deepak Chopra reminded us of one of the key factors for any successful relationship – the power of listening. And by listening, I mean listening with full attention and awareness – being there for them.

Keeping this in my mind, I focused on the centering thought for the day:

I am present.

Being there, or being present for someone is one of the greatest gifts we can ever give. Just like it is most comforting to be heard, it is also essential that we give back the same undivided attention. Something as simple as listening quietly with rapt attention can do more towards improving our relationships than a thousand words. When we add true awareness to our listening,we start receiving all the unspoken messages that the other person sends through their energy, body, and nonverbal communication. Listening, a form of mindful attention that brings us fully into the present moment, can be miraculous.

Let’s Start Listening Now

Let us begin to consider the act of bestowing our undivided attention, a valuable gift we can to everyone in our lives. Listening with full attention and awareness is somewhat like meditation. Have at least one conversation today in which you truly listen with your heart and soul. Stop your busy mind from wandering away to your own concerns.

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” —Ram Dass

Seeing them through the eyes of your heart, try to listen beyond the words to receive the full spirit and potential of the message. With this practice we can be sure to invite true connection, infinite possibility, and abundant love into our lives and relationships.

Meditation

Our Sanskrit mantra for the day was ‘Om Vardhanam Namah’ which means – I nourish the universe and the universe nourishes me. Today, in the enlightening stillness of meditation, I tried to focus on the many gifts available through listening with our ears, heart, and soul. Gradually, I shifted my attention to driving everything else out of my mind and concentrated on the mantra and the flow of my breath. It was a peaceful and satisfying meditation today.