<\/p>\n
We learn to actively cultivate in conversations, our ability to listen, to use our ears more than our mouths.<\/b><\/p>\n
How and Why It Works, Second Edition, \u201cApplying Spiritual Principles\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Being open-minded is a key spiritual principle of the Second Tradition, in which we invite a Higher Power to develop and guide our group consciousness in decision-making. One step toward making our minds open enough to participate in this process is to open our ears to each other. And, as the clich\u00e9 goes, we don't just listen to words (blah, blah, blah, blah, waiting for our turn to speak), but we pay attention to what others are saying. For this to actually happen, we need to take a break from talking or thinking about what to say when it's finally our turn.<\/span><\/p>\n A mistake we often make in relationships\u2014and this is equally true in NA services\u2014is thinking that being heard and getting our point across is the most important contribution we can make. There are times when we confuse listening with telling someone how much we understand them and immediately sharing our own story of identification. And other times our proof of listening is a list full of solutions to the problems a member just shared with us. Sometimes an addict just wants to be heard. Our sage advice can wait until we are asked for it.<\/span><\/p>\n When we truly listen in a conversation or group discussion, we are able to make more sense, empathize, be inclusive and curious. We tap into the consciousness part of the Second Tradition when we listen to\u2014and absorb\u2014the voices of our fellow members. Our perspective broadens, content deepens. When we are as open-minded as possible, we can see things as others see them, perhaps clarifying our own views along the way. We can be influenced. One addict shared, "I feel so much more at peace when I listen and don't try so hard to be heard - and isn't peace what this is all about?"<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today will be a day that I open my mind and heart by opening my ears and not my mouth. Be still, my mind, I'm trying to listen!<\/b><\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-12235","spad","type-spad","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/spad\/12235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/spad"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/spad"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}