Loving Communication

I've been thinking a lot this week about communication.

And so I'm reminded of a Buddhist teaching on speaking:

“It is spoken at the right time. It is spoken in truth. It is spoken affectionately. It is spoken beneficially. It is spoken with a mind of good-will.

Is it timely? Is what you want to say relevant to what is happening now?

Is it true? Is what I am about to say true? Am I coming from a place of fact or opinion? Am I speaking from integrity and grace?

Is it kind? This is the foundation of all communication. If its unkind then it simply should not be said. Ever.

Is it necessary? We don't have to say everything in our minds. Let us say what is beneficial. What is of use.

So, always we pause. We pause to feel a pose in our bodies. We pause to assess our breath. We pause to feel and observe.

And the same should be done with speaking. Pause before you speak. Pause and ask yourself these questions: Is what I am going to say timely? Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? When we take the time to do this; our relationships flourish. They are intimate and loving. We open the door for deeper experiences within us and with others.

The opposite is also true. When we speak unkind, untruths that serve no-one, we diminish our selves and our relationship with others. We burn bridges.  We have regrets.

My teacher Selina said it beautifully "Kindness is the base. Knowing your boundaries builds the support beams, moving forward from the intuitive, not the brain or history builds the relationships that build the business."

Let us all evolve consciously as a race and as a community. Whether we are discussing politics, religion or just relating (or disagreeing!) with our friends and our co-workers.

Let peace begin with us.