Maria Gonzalez Blog
Mindful Leadership

When in Doubt Open Your Heart

There are times that we are at a loss for what to say or what to do.  Someone may be telling us something that may be painful to them and perhaps painful for us to hear.

The habitual tendency may be to change the subject, to make them laugh, to distract them.  These may be the only strategies that come to mind.

But, there is an alternative.  The greatest gift you can give another person is to listen with an open heart.  So when in doubt open the heart.  Just listen to what they are saying and do nothing.  It may happen that you are spontaneously moved to wish them well or send them positive thoughts.  That is what it is to experience compassion.

It may equally occur that you are just present, just still, just silent.  It takes great courage to listen to someone’s pain in that way.  There is great wisdom and great strength in that silence.  There is a peace that comes with deep silence.  That is the silence of an open heart.  And in that opening of the heart you are contributing to healing…healing the other person and healing yourself.

You see, because we are all one, whatever you do for another, you do for yourself.