transformative listening

Calling all worriers out there!!! (and those who love them) What Iâ€™m learning about worry & gratitude

transformative listening — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 18:40:20 -0400

misty redwoods @ Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, CA

Happy Almost Fall!

The leaves are falling, the air is getting (a little) crisper some mornings, and the sun is setting earlier and riser later each day.Â I’m continuing to listen to my early spring recordings while hiking and each time I dive in, I get a great sense of peace listening to what I was thinking about several months ago.Â I’m finding I love this looping back, reflecting, and noticing where I was then, where I am now, and whether or not I can sense any ‘movement’ or new insights in my perspective.Â

This brief podcast (approximately 8 mins) is an older reflection on what I was noticing about my thought pattern of ‘worry’ back in early March 2013.Â In the present moment I’ve been experimenting to see how my gratitude practice has been helping to ‘tame’ my worry pattern.Â

For the past several months I’ve been starting each entry in my written journal with a list of a few things for which I am grateful.Â I am noticing that my gratitude practice has been deeply calming and centering.Â It hasn’t eradicated the worry, (possibly nothing every will), yet when I choose to calmly put my attention on the things in my life that are good and immensely meaningful, then my whole attitude shifts and the worry pattern that is of my mind is much less likely to monopolize my attention.Â I think this is because it shows me that I have the power, or will, to put my attention where I consciously choose.Â I think that it also works because focusing on what I am grateful for comes from my heart and not my head.Â

That is the biggest thing I’ve been noticing about worry; it lives in my head, making me afraid of things that I ‘think’ are going to happen.Â My heart isn’t even a part of this equation.Â when I remember to think with my heart, my life goes a lot better.Â I feel grateful, powerful and capable.

Enjoy!Â I’d love to hear any discoveries that you may have about letting go of worry.Â Â You can listen online below or download the 8 minute mp3 file to your personal listening device.Â

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Reflecting on Reflectionâ€¦and Other Lessons from â€˜Steep Hillâ€™

transformative listening — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 20:50:48 -0400

Steep Hill @ Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, CA

Happy summer everyone!

It’s been a few weeks; almost a couple of months since I’ve last posted and I’m sorry for being away for so long.Â Throughout the past few weeks I’ve tried to keep up my hiking and audio recording practice and I managed to do this some, but not nearly enough from what I can tell.Â I was able to ‘remain faithful’ to my written journal which was a good help, yet as I found, this was not quite as helpful as my hiking (moving my body), noticing (reflecting on my feelings and thoughts) and recording practice.Â I just wasn’t able to get enough quality reflection time in nature; experiencing the living system of myself in interaction with the living systems of the trees and the greater forest ecosystem.Â I invite you to download and listen to this 12 minute podcast to hear more.

But I’m back in the saddle again and as I re-listen to older recordings to share with you, it takes me back to that time in the woods a few months back, and as I reflect NOW on my reflections from BACK THEN, My insights and personal discoveries are deepened further.Â I feel quite fortunate to get to reflect on my reflections.Â As I listen to these recordings I’ve made I feel clearer, calmer, and more centered in my life.

Once again I invite you to take a listen as I hike up what I affectionately call ‘steep hill’ at the Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel, CA.Â There is a picture of the hill just to your upper left, although I must say that picture does not do the steepness of ‘steep hill’ justice Â Enjoy!

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Learning How to Listen (and Heal) from the Natural Environment

transformative listening — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:14:33 -0400

Hello!Â This is the first share of my new Audioblog series, ‘Natural Healing through Transformative Listening.’Â The idea for this series was born while hiking in the Redwoods near my home and recording my thoughts on a digital voice recorder (dvr).Â Download the first episode, listen and learn more!

My intent is to share each episode ‘uncut’ or with little or no editing.Â As this project evolves and I integrate technical feedback from you, I may adjust the style and length of subsequent episodes.Â

Thanks for helping me with this experiment!Â I am finally sharing through my new blog because at some point in the past, many of you have said to me, “Gayle, you really have a unique perspective on many things; you should share your ideas more widely ’cause they’re really helpful!”

The series is meant to be an exploration of the transformative power of listening, the healing effects of the natural environment, and the usefulness of regular, reflective practice in the process of living ones’ life to the fullest.Â My intention is to model these practices whilst cultivating my capacity for gratitude, vulnerability and courage.Â

Thank you for being a kind, gentle witness, and welcome to this project.

p.s.Â Guidelines for Participation:Â I am not looking for advice or information on any of the personal issues I may choose to explore in this series, so please refrain from offering any in your comments below.Â I am simply inviting you in to be a ‘silent observer’ or witness to my reflective practice.Â

I hold the belief that each one of us has the capacity to think for ourselves and to make high quality decisions and choices in our own best interest.Â I also find that ones own thinking process can be aided simply by the warm attention of caring others.Â No advice is necessary and oftentimes can get in the way.Â

Although I think the transformative effects of being listened to deeply are best accomplished face-to-face, a reasonable facsimile can be created through the use of technology.Â I choose to believe that by sharing these audioblog posts I am receiving the collective, caring listening power of each and every one of you.Â What a gift.

And, it’s also possible that by listening to my reflections, to these ‘intra-personal communicatings’ on aspects of my life, listeners might also gain useful insight into their own lives.

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