Instead of listening to random voices in your head that you may have heard under the influence of drugs and alcohol, in recovery you will need to intentionally listen to how to get sober. The subject of sobriety may be foreign at first, but getting earfuls of recovery will aid in your journey.
The Dali Lami has been quoted as saying, “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.” What a beautiful concept to practice in your recovery and in your overall daily life. In order for sobriety to become concrete, you must exhibit regular growth. By listening to others, you could implement useful tools and resources to evolve your recovery in ways that you never imagined possible.
Listening Starts by Hearing Others
Everyone has something to say so find the people worth listening to. At this point, you need to listen to those who you relate with and you can learn from. Old school recovery would state that you needed to take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth, or more bluntly, sit down and shut up. While that might seem a bit harsh today, if you can take that message with a grain of salt to see the bigger picture, you just may have a chance. Listening with openmindedness and willingness can get you further than continuing to fight everybody and everything. Hearing what others have to say gives you the opportunity to learn something you may have lent a deaf ear to before.
Listening Works by Not Thinking
Here is what happens to many people in conversations. They hear something that catches their attention and that they feel like they can expand on it in a profound way. Rather than listen to the entire conversation, they start configuring what they are going to say next and mentally ignore the person whose turn it is to talk. Does this sound like you? In order to speak profoundly about the subject, you have to hear their comments in their entirety. Often when this happens, some interrupting takes place because maybe you just cannot hold back with all your profoundness. Stop thinking about what you are going to say next and be in the present moment of what they are going to say next instead. You will gain more respect by listening because people thrive on being heard as opening your ears also opens your heart.
Offering a full range of recovery and mental health services, Detox Center of Colorado offers “Expanded Recovery” to enrich our clients’ lives in mind, body, and spirit. Through evidence-based therapy options and the endless adventure of Colorado, Detox Center of Colorado fosters connection, encouraging clients to get connected to themselves, their peers, their families, and their higher power. With the power of recovery, clients are restored to full health and experience life-changing healing. Call us today for more information: 303-536-5463
