I am beginning to wonder if the act of listening could be perhaps the most amazing creative tool. I believe that many of us who are creatively sensitive are not such good listeners. I count myself amongst this group. I was born sensitive yet was never taught about my gift or how to utilize it to it’s optimum. As such I became a victim to my sensitivity very early in life.
Consequently I developed insecurities that shaped much of my existence. Through this insecurity I developed a need to be validated. I felt such depth in life but had little or no stability in my emotional state and little solidity in my self esteem. In addition I also believe that I have been very shallow in my judgments in many situations.
For the past 5 or so years however my experiences in life have forced me to look deep inside. I now really listen to what I feel and am far less harsh on myself when I have strong judgments about myself or others. I realize how much emotional energy flows through my system and accept now why I have been so insecure.
This acceptance is allowing me to not feel so vulnerable and so much in need of attention and validation. Finally after 40 years I am not so unskilled in the ability to hear my inner self. I am now better able to listen to the words and more importantly the emotional dialogue of others. These days if I have a strong feeling I am far more adept at searching deeper for wisdom rather than holding damaging judgments and beliefs.
On a community level I believe that many sensitive people are unconsciously victims to their gift to feel more deeply than most. We live in a community where pain and fear seems far more prevalent than open love and freedom. In many instances people hide this well but in general the emotional state of humanity is very confused. As such those with the ability to feel the most are tending to be bitter and frustrated.
If this world is to ever find peace and humility then those most sensitive must take a more mature stance. I believe new wisdom must come from experience. If the majority of community energy is in confusion and pain then surely we must embrace these aspects of life if we are to access wisdom.
If we try to deny what we feel we are only in my opinion creating more internal unrest. Depression seems to grow more so than any other disease. Could it be that this is a disease of avoidance rather than something we have been struck down with?
Perhaps if we really listen to all we see and feel in life this cycle may be transformed. Perhaps the information we are avoiding or judging may in no small part provide the blueprint for the world that CREATION initially intended?
Please also check out my philosophy website
www.leapoffaith.com.au
TREVOR IRWIN, about 1 month ago
Tony, You have Gained wisdom, with experience. Your words are instructive and has deep truths. I do not know if you or others have faith in God or the teachings of his son Jesus. But for me I learned an important lesson in the story of the woman at the well. St John 4:5-29.. he met a woman of Samaria at a well. In verse 29, she told her friends, “Come see a man who told me everything i ever did. Even though Jesus knew all things about her, He still listened to her. He took time to let her speak, even though he knew her hurts, and insecurities.
I therefore always listen to my emotions, and look for the emotions that others portray in their words. Sorry Tony, I don’t mean to preach. But this is my experience.
Your Writing “Listening and Creativity”, is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing with me.
Tony Ryan in reply to TREVOR IRWIN’s comment, about 1 month ago
Hi Trevor,
Thats cool. I really think Jesus is becoming very relevant today as much as ihn any part of history. Personally I think it must have been so hard for him to feel all he did and still live as a rational human.
Thanks for taking the time to read and give your input and encouragement.
Best Wishes Tony.
Steph Granshaw, about 1 month ago
As i learn to love and value myself there enters into my life the potential for loving and valuing others. Also in my experience when i deny something, when i offer resistance to what is, then i suffer, but yes, unfortunately acceptance is very often misunderstood as weakness.
Being a sensitive soul myself one of my greatest teachings was never to take anything personally, it’s never personal. My internal reaction to someone elses words or actions is my own responsibility, once i started to realize the enormous truth in this, did i begin the journey of being my authentic self rather than a mish mash of everybody elses projections/opinions.
Thank you for sparking off my little rant Tony. Blessings
butchart, about 1 month ago
Tony…. i too believe that listening is not only a tool but also an art that needs to be devoloped and tempered. In my own experience i have learned that the more i truley listen to myself and others the calmer i become…..and in that calm state i am better able to process the information (thoughts) in a more enlightened insightful way. We all have a need to feel validated to some degree, whether it be vaidation from ourselves our from people we interact with . I think true validation can come only after we have really listened to each other, taken the time to process what we have heard and calmly progress to the response that comes from our hearts.
Listening involves more senses than the just hearing..we also listen with our eyes and hearts. People have often remarked to me that I am a good listener and also that my responses are slow in coming. So many times when interacting i believe that people are so busy in their own minds thinking about what they are going to say next that the listening process itself is lost in the search for a quick rebuttal. I think it’s so much more imortant to open your mind ,eyes, and heart and truley absorb what someone is saying and make the conscious effort to not think of a reply until that person is done with what they have to say. Eye contact becomes a very important part of the process. I believe people intuitively realize when they are truley being listened to… not only does this give them validation but also the courage to delve more deeply in themselves and communicate on a more spiritual level. Responses , it follows to reason, will also become more genuine and spritiual as they are not formed until all a persons words have been heard and reflected upon before the reponse is given. I hope this makes some sense to you …............. peace and light…......b
Verangel, about 1 month ago
Thank you for this inspiring narrative 8)
This is such a relevant discussion! I could not agree more. I definitely feel that the sensitive souls have a tendency to overact to the stimuli, causing lots of angst. I’m myself in a process of ‘growing a thicker skin’ so that other people’s standard responses in every day life do not ‘stick’ with me, causing unnecessary stress and frustrations.
You are right, with time we do have a tendency to become angry, and bitter mostly because of the overwhelming floods of emotions, which we forever struggle to cope with. For me personally, I find that each day is so emotionally different, complex, varied and busy, and that before even going to work. I believe that with deeper understanding our inner selves, comes also the ability to accept / embrace / process emotions we want to experience, and simply process without rejection / resistance those that we don’t. Just like we do with thoughts in the art of meditation.
I can definitely appreciate the value of listening, although must quietly confess it is still work in progress for me…. In that very space we can, not only better tame our over reactions, but also try to appreciate the others’ point of view, looking pass the shallow, thin layer of words… With this richer perception, we may no longer be compelled to feel hurt.
Of course the race towards constant self validation and dependency of others to validate us, does not allow us to have much space to simply listen… That is where taking responsibility over our reactions towards others is so relevant. As we free ourselves from the inner tyranny of being perfect, and accepting the fact that only we are able to change our inner reactions, we then will be able to let go more, and free some room for the act of listening….This in turn will naturally tame the inner dialogue, helping us to experience more inner peace, and form better personal and interpersonal relationships… 8)))
Tony Ryan in reply to Steph Granshaw’s comment, about 1 month ago
Hi Steph,
I love what you have written. I do not think I have reached your level of acceptance as yet. I still find that I become frustrated and angry under certain circumstances. So I suppose at least in the moments of these things happening I must be taking it personally. The big change for me is accepting that I am getting hurt and then going into the hurt so that I can give myself a better chance of not reacting to the same extent the next time a similar event happens.
I have also learnt much about this from romantic relationships. One women who I love very much has often shut me out. I used to get so rejected and hurt until I started going deeper into my hurt and also her emotional state. The more I learnt the more faith I have had in my love for her and most importantly my love for myself.
Once again think your little rant is brilliant.
Best Wishes Tony.
Tony Ryan in reply to butchart’s comment, about 1 month ago
Hi Butch,
Your words here seem even more intuitive than ever. You have so described aspects of listening that I have been less than open in. I so agree with you that people can sense if a person is truly listening or not. In fact even the most insecure person is likely to open up if they feel the person listening really cares.
In fact I think much of the issues in life today is that so few people have the emotional freedom to really listen to others.
Really love what you have said here. Makes so much sense on a rational and spiritual level.
Best Wishes Tony.
Tony Ryan in reply to Verangel’s comment, about 1 month ago
Hi Verangel,
The responses to this piece of writing have been incredible. I feel like you guys are so waking me up re the aspects of listening. I think I wrote this without having full awareness myself to what I was writing. You guys seem to be filling in the many blanks that I missed.
I ca relate to what you say about sensitive people over reacting. In a catch 22 sort of way I believe even if we physically and verbally over react there is probably a very valid energy or thought emotion that has stimulated our response. Also even if someone has projected an energy towards us that has stimulated a reaction there must be some confusion within us that has us react. Once again searching all aspects of any emotionally confusing incident can only be empowering for all.
Personally I think perfection is a reality but it is a perfect peace rather than a perfect material result we should be believing in.
Thanks so much for your input.
Best Wishes Tony.
butchart, about 1 month ago
Tony…. this may be a side note….. but perhaps listening with ALL their enhanced senses is what made The Sacred Prostitutes the gifted beings that they were considered to be…............................b
Tony Ryan in reply to butchart’s comment, about 1 month ago
Once again you are taking me deeper into my feelings. I often believe that many women have lost the true beauty in their own bodies. They have such a gift to feel so much through their senses but seem to have had their feeling so clouded by how society has viewed and treated women and their bodies.
I believe sacred prostitutes were so at peace internally that they realised the power that they had to heal the most troubled men both with their bodies and essence power.
butchart, about 1 month ago
I believe sacred prostitutes were so at peace internally that they realised the power that they had to heal the most troubled men both with their bodies and essence power.
.....
which is the anithesis of the 21st century prostitutes…. who i believe are so at war with who they are spiritually that they have lost all control of self and therefore have lost any power over their own destiny and the sexual act for which they are rewarded. There is no beauty or healing … in the act nor in the participants.
_
Tony Ryan in reply to butchart’s comment, about 1 month ago
Couldn’t agree more Butch. I think the way society has promoted sex and beautiful bodies ect has really clouded what women do with their bodies. On another level I believe most of us prostitute ourselves in our work and personal lives. I suppose this is just manifested more urgently in prostitution as physical touch exchanges such deep power.
I think if we all prioritised being true to self that we would all become sacredly honest and that any form of prostitution would become obselete.
incaalpaca, about 1 month ago
my my my self perception is rather invoking of powerful effects towards others of like minded sympathies and compassions. You have succeeded in summarising what many have taken chapters to come close to what you have said in a few words and my compliments to you on this honesty, this awareness and the willingness to share your new found accpetance. May your words find homes in the souls of others and assist them in accepting in a similar fashion and accepting others without judgment is a gift all of its own and you have succeeded quite admirably indeed.
Tony Ryan in reply to incaalpaca’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thanks for reading this and forwarding your encouragement. I think it is such a buzz when you receive such feedback on your creative output.
Had a look at your profile. Your book about female fantasy sounds facinating.