By Judy Joseph McSween
Time Out Specialist – Emotional Intelligence, Conversational Intelligence and Spiritual Intelligence Coach
In our second segment of Self-Awareness and Self-Management, we noted the correlation between building relationships and spiritual growth.
We were invited to (i) be aware of our emotions and their impact on our thoughts and behaviour as we engaged in ministry and (ii) view our role in ministry as a vocation. Both these actions require us to be open and willing to listen to self, others, and the Holy Spirit.
We noted that the foundation for building relationships begins with our ability to PAUSE, to become self-aware, paying attention to the other, choosing to align with God’s will, demonstrating unconditional love for the other.
As you begin to peruse this article, I encourage you to PAUSE, take a few deep breaths and become fully present.
Here are a few interesting facts about listening:
At any given juncture, we wrestle with listening to self, fully listening to the other and listening to the Holy Spirit.
Synod means “journeying together” and it involves listening to each other and the Holy Spirit to discern the path we are called to walk together.
Let’s face it, there are people we enjoy listening to, there are others we would rather not listen to, and there are those to whom we never listen.
Yet the Holy Spirit is present in all of us. Even when listening to people we enjoy, there are periods during the conversation when we are so enraptured by a word or phrase which caught our attention, we miss some of what they have said.
Attentive Listening, in the context of synodality, necessitates the development of our Spiritual and Emotional Intelligence (SEQ) competencies, that enable improved connections with self, others – family and community, with God; and acknowledging our connection with persons whom we may never meet.
This requires that we PAUSE, become aware of
Reflection activities – developing our listening skills
Walking Together – Caribbean Reflections of a Synodal Journey authored by Fr Don Chambers and me, Judy Joseph McSween, provides several opportunities to develop your attentive listening competencies. As you engage in ministry this week, I encourage you to:
And observe what happens as you apply the following techniques to maintain your presence: