I was with a friend this week who said to me "I hate repeating myself". Not many of us like to speak to someone only to find out that they may have heard the words that we spoke, but the really were not listening. Face it, for some of us, having to repeat ourselves can feel like a waste of time. But I will always believe that if the message I send was not understood by the receiver, then the fault was mine for not ensuring that the person understood.

Active listening is the biggest part of being good at anything and everything you do. If you want to be a better parent, a better friend, a better spouse or better businessperson, you must concentrate on listening actively.

To listen actively, a good response to someone's instructions or dialogue is to re frame what they have communicated to you in your own words to ensure you have properly understood. Not only does this let the other person know you are trying to understand them, but it can keep misunderstandings to a minimum. It also keeps you from making snap judgments and relaying unkind words to someone who may not have meant what you interpreted them to say. ( I hope that was not too confusing!)

So sometimes things are worth repeating!

Not Worth Repeating

We live in such a politically correct society, and yet it still amazes me the way we treat others behind their back. I must admit that this week I allowed myself to join into a conversation that belittled a group of people. Almost immediately after I laughed and agreed with a comment made about a minority group, I regretted it. I realized that I had hurt someone whether that person was there or not. All of us do it one time or another. Thank goodness someone bravely spoke up and said to the group that our comments were unfair and unkind. I apologized immediately, and agreed. However the damage had been done. Not to the offended party, but to me. I realized that as I acted below my level of standards I really only hurt myself and my reputation.

I have known all along that speaking unkindly or discriminatingly in any fashion was wrong, but I was quickly reminded of that fact. So we must all remember there are some things not worth repeating!

Great Quotes - Please repeat them!

Success is going from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm - Sir Winston Churchill

There are no short cuts to any place worth going - Beverly Sills

If everything seems under control, you are not going fast enough! - Mario Andretti Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make you a far happier and more productive person. - Dr. David M. Burns

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