The Eighth Mindfulness Training: Community and Communication

Aware that lack of communication always brings separation and suffering, I am committed to training myself in the practice of compassionate listening and loving speech. I will learn to listen deeply without judging or reacting and refrain from uttering words that can create discord or cause the community to break. I will make every effort to keep communications open and to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

This is from the fourteen mindfulness trainings from Thich Nhat Hanh. You can see them and more related information on the Deer Park Monastery website.

Try it for yourself. The next time you’re speaking with someone, look within to see how connected you are, or aren’t. Feel that level of connection and how it might shift with the things you or the other person says.

There are many models of communication that are based on supporting a healthy and open connection. One such practice is NVC also called non-violent communications or compassionate communications. It starts with a simple model to follow while you’re learning that brings up your own awareness.