A wise old owl sat upon an oak;
The more he saw the less he spoke;
The less he spoke the more he heard;
Why aren't we like that wise old bird?
- Edward Hersey Richards
It takes a lot of heartfelt love to sit and listen without sharing your own bouts of wisdom. Haven't there been times in your life that you just wanted to vent without really being offered guidance or words of wisdom? Well, unless you specifically asked for just an ear to sound your horn into then its almost a given you will get the mouth to go along with the ear.
As with anything else you want in life you have to be specific about what you ask for. For what you ask for you WILL get. Be aware of the power of the spoken word but also be aware of the power of leaving your thoughts open ended. Life is full of surprises and unless you voice your desire for input then who knows what you may get.
When you want to vent and want nothing else in return, then say so! When you wish to share with another and want guidance, or maybe just prayers, then say so. When you do not share what you want, you may get more than you bargained for. The other person with whom you chose to share your thoughts with cannot read your mind. Not usually anyway, unless this is a very close friend and has learned when to offer their words of wisdom and when not to.
As common courtesy it's always best to reveal your wishes up front when you have chosen a sounding board. If you do not, they listen, they hear you, and say nothing mainly because of their doubts on whether to share their words of wisdom or not. You walk away feeling more confused than when you started the conversation with them.
Everyday we learn by experiencing life. Everyday we learn and are enlightened by others. We aren't expected to always have the answers in regards to another's situations. We do not always have to relate to what they are telling us. It is ok to say, "I don't know." It is Ok to say, "Gosh Sally, I really don't know what to say right at the moment but since you asked for my input I will share my thoughts with you as soon as I feel I know what it is I am wanting to say regarding what you shared with me. You will be the first to know when I know."
Always going through life thinking you have to know something about everything only leads to disappointment and heartache. For as sure as the world rotates you will find yourself caught up in a situation you can't worm your way out of if your life depended on it. Honesty is the best policy; when you do not know the answers, then say so! If you are not sure the person who is communicating with you wants your input, then by all means, ask them what it is they want from you, an ear, a mouth, or both! Until then you do not know, and that's ok! Until then saying nothing says it best. Communication is the bridge to knowing!
Vanessa Ebner is a Reiki Master Teacher, writer, and Spiritual counselor. She provides angelic guidance and inspiration through daily Angel Readings via the World Wide Web. To read more of her articles visit her Website: http://www.hearangelswhisper.com |
