One of my rituals for each new year is to choose a word to influence me for the year. My word for 2011 is EXPERIMENT. To support my EXPERIMENTAL focus, I commit to post the results of a new experiment each Sunday of this year.
I’ll cut right to the chase here. This week I experimented with giving NO unsolicited advice or opinions. And let me tell you – it was TOUGH!
Within hours on the very first day I had to stop myself in mid-sentence and ask the person I was with, “Will you please ask me what I think?!”. I explained why. She did. And we both laughed – a lot.
I slipped up one other time, when a friend said he’d never buy organic because it was a complete sham. HAD to offer my opinion on that one ;).
The rest of the week was a major lesson in paying attention. Here’s what I noticed:
- I listened better because my mind was bogged down with trying to come up with what I was going to say;
- I learned a lot because, well because I listened better;
- Some of the people with whom I interacted commented that they really appreciated just being heard;
- And it was FUN.
So I’m going to keep paying attention.
And I’d love to hear YOUR opinions…
Lisa’s Cheap Therapy blog 
Hmmm….for some reason, I liked this experiment more than most of the others.
Lisa, Tom;
We must NEVER experiment with me. Well, unless we are trying a new chocolate recipe. Your opinion means too much to me. Thanks for being my human compass.
Love ya,
Linda
Oh, man… this is something I really need to experiment with myself! As a teacher and a mom, I find myself giving advice way too often, like a bad habit. I need to remember that, sometimes, what they need is encouragement to figure things out for themselves! Lisa, you give advice the best way—by simply sharing what you’re doing, and making me think, “Hey, I should try that!” (:
Tom, as usual ~ you made me LAUGH OUT LOUD.
Linda, DEAL! ❤
ML, i can soooooooooooooo relate. 🙂
thanks for connecting ya'll…