Hear. Think. Feel.

The snow still covers the ground. The temperature still feels like mid-winter. The sky is grey and spring feels a long way away. But it's April!

I want to wear bright colours and light fabrics. I want to go barefoot and gloveless. But, baby, it's cold outside.

Guess I'll just have to turn the heat up.

No matter how hard I wish for it to be different, the weather does what it wants to do. Right now an Arctic front is colliding with warm Pacific air right over our city. I can't see the collision of these two colossal winds, but the meteorologist tells me they're there, and the temperature outside says it's true.

Guess I won't put my winter wardrobe away quite yet!

Weather and people are very similar. I always know what I want them to do, but they just go ahead and do what they want.

Why can't I be as adaptable with people as I am with the weather?

Sometimes, I forget that life is about giving, not taking. Awhile ago a very dear friend was telling me about something bothering her. I gave a list of suggestions of what she could do to fix herself and make it all better.

Truth is, she didn't need my list. She needed my ears, my heart and my compassion. She needed me to love her, exactly where she's at, not where I think she should be. My friend wasn't looking for someone to fix her problem. She was in need of someone willing to hear her, acknowledge her pain and offer her encouragement.

In Givers 1 this weekend we did an exercise called, I Hear. I Think. I Feel. The purpose of the exercise is to mirror back for someone what you heard them say, and then to give your thoughts and feelings.

Here's an example, the other person says, I got up this morning, had breakfast and because I was still tired, went back to bed.

My response in the I HEAR part of this exercise would be: I heard you say you got up this morning, had breakfast and because you were still tired, went back to bed.

In the Think, I might respond, I think you were smart to listen to your body. OR, I might say, I think it's wrong to go back to bed after breakfast (and then spend five minutes justifying why!).

Both responses are judgements. In the first response, however, I affirm what they did, which is good, but I'm still judging.

In the Feel, I might respond, I feel like you gave yourself a much needed break. OR, I feel like you gave into your depression. OR, I feel like you missed the best part of the day...

Again, the responses are my opinions of what the other person was doing.

In the Think and Feel sections, it's important for me to talk about how I feel, about my feelings, not about them.

For example, I could have said, I think it's important to listen to our bodies. I feel inspired by what you did and will remember it next time I wake up tired. While I don't always have the time to go back to bed, I will give myself the opportunity whenever I can. Thanks!

Now, that's a pretty simple example, but can you feel the difference? Can you feel how the last response affirms the other person and keeps me centered in my feelings and thoughts?

When I gave my friend my list of 5,342 things she could do to make herself better, I was casting judgement. I was not listening, speaking to encourage her, or to honour her journey. I was telling her what to do. She didn't need that. She needed my support. She needed me to not judge, but rather to simply HEAR her. To give her space to be where she's at, supported by my love. What I thought she needed to do is not the issue. Hearing her, acknowledging her pain, and surrounding her with love was.

HEAR. THINK. FEEL.

I will carry these words with me as I move into my day. They are a powerful example of how I can be the best me that I can be, how I can honour those around me and walk with integrity, dignity and grace through my day. And in the process, how I can give to receive what I need. Love. The more I give. The more I receive.

In the meantime, I'll keep bundled up to ensure I weather the cold outside with warm hands so that I can keep my heart open to the limitless possibilities of my day.

Have a wonderful hearing day!