Listening with Heart - Week 6

This week, explore how the simple act of active listening can transform your relationships with presence. Join the experiment for insights and simple steps for improved 'being'.

A Recap

We are now over the half-way point in our Experiment, The Power of Being. Let’s begin with a quick recap.

So, what have we covered so far?

We explored reclaiming stillness, presence and prayer in Week 1. This was followed by reflection and deepening the pauses in Week 2 and finding self-compassion in Week 3. In Week 4, we explored the connection to our inner guidance, always available when we slow down enough to listen, and in Week 5, Emotional Presence and Self-Regulation, we learned techniques to stay grounded and emotionally balanced, even in challenging moments.

Take a moment to reflect on the journey in your JOURNAL:

• In Week 5, which practices such as deep breathing or identifying triggers, supported your ability to be present?

• What are you noticing? Have you been able to navigate triggers differently? How? and how does it feel to step out of patterns of drama?

• What shifts are occurring over the course of 5 weeks?

• How are you feeling as a result of working silence or meditation into your day?

Are you noticing any changes you can share? I’d love to hear about your progress or something that is working for you!

As we enter Week 6, it’s important to carry forward that emotional self-awareness and practice emotional regulation in our relationships. Being able to stay centered when engaging with others will allow for more meaningful and supportive interactions.

A Check-In

How are you handling presence, I wonder?

I’m going to be honest with you, sometimes it is not as easy as it could be.

My household is upended with renovations after a busy start to the year with visits we chose not to postpone (the blessings in being with those we love), and a stream of external attention-grabbers. Some relevant and others not so much. But perhaps this is the greater part of the Experiment? Learning in real-time?!

This morning, in the wee hours, I woke and realised I needed grounding. Lying in bed, I dropped my energetic anchors from my chakras deeply into Mother Earth and called for alignment. A gentle meditation followed with the rain drumming lightly and soft sounds of a slumbering house in the background. A blessed return to sleep followed.

When I don’t make time, time and circumstance makes me.

And so again I ask, how are you handling presence?

Without judgment, I hope.

I am loving meditations with Sam Corrie at Soft, Simple, Still - this one could have been made specifically for The Power of Being Experiment!

Meditation #37 - To Rest. To be Still. To be Thoughtful.

Being Present in Relationships

Week 6: Presence in Relationships

As we move into Week 6 of The Power of Being experiment, we focus on the profound impact that being truly present has on our relationships. Whether with family, friends, or coworkers, our relationships require attention and energy to thrive.

And so, this week is all about cultivating presence during our interactions with others. When we are present with someone, we offer them the gift of our undivided attention and give ourselves an opportunity to ‘put down’ internal competing agendas. Whether we’re listening to a friend’s concerns or sharing a joyful moment with a loved one, being fully engaged allows for deeper connections.

Let’s explore some insights to help transform our relationships.

Listening to our heart, listening with heart. Photo by Sharon Waldron

Mindful Listening Practice

Mindful listening has two aspects. One is the ability to show up for others and the other is to be aware, or mindful, of our energy and ability to be present for someone else.

Perhaps we need to check in with the second aspect first. Are we in the right space for conversation? We do not need to be endlessly present for people to use as ‘an ear’. Checking in with our feelings and being honest about whether we are fit to engage in dialogue is not being selfish, its being honest. If the answer is ‘no’, there may be a need to do some work around healthy boundaries.

When we are ready to show up there are certain communication skills we can bring to help build healthier relationships.

Active Listening

We have been sold the notion of multitasking, yet it often leads to many unsatisfying ways of being, including busy brain which can distract us from presence. When someone speaks, it may require reminding ourselves to listen with the intent to understand, not to respond. This means setting aside distractions and focusing completely on the speaker and this is a task that requires practice.

Activity: Set aside 10-15 minutes each day to have a conversation where you practice being an engaged and active listener through mindful listening. Consider:

1. What does the speaker need from the conversation?

If you aren’t sure, ask - does the speaker want you to simply listen? Or will it help them to reveal a shared experience? Read the room - if the speaker is uncomfortable or disengaged, ask what it is they need from you!

2. Can you offer empathy, loving support, and belief in them?

3. Are you waiting to be invited before giving advice?

4. Are you asking questions for clarification or checking your understanding with paraphrasing?

5. Can you allow the speaker to have their opinion?

6. Do you see them as a unique Soul having their own Divinely guided experience or are you trying to ‘shape’ or heal them?

7. Can you maintain mental and physical engagement? See below.

Afterward, reflect on how the interaction felt and how it affected the connection. JOURNAL your observations and note any growth.

Here’s to the blessed listeners in our lives. Photo by Matthew Henry

The Power of Body Language - Physical Engagement

Eye contact: Can you let yourself ‘see’ and be seen? This powerful skill reinforces soul connection, establishes trust and shows that you are fully engaged. Practice intentional eye contact and notice how this affects the depth of your connection.

Facial expressions: Reflect emotions and convey understanding by nodding, smiling, or raising eyebrows to show interest.

Posture: Face the speaker directly, with an open and relaxed posture (not crossed arms or looking away).

Lean in slightly: to demonstrate engagement and curiosity.

Nodding: Subtle nodding shows acknowledgment and that you’re following along.

Relaxed hands: resting comfortably or gently gesturing can show openness and receptivity.

Silence: Is not a bad thing! Prattling on as a cover for our anxiety can prevent us from discovering the peace in offering others and ourselves silence. As a tool, a pause after the speaker finishes allows space for deeper thought and invites further elaboration.

Activity: In each interaction this week, consciously make eye contact and pay attention to one or two elements of body language. Take time to reflect on how the other person responds to your presence and JOURNAL your thoughts.

Full Presence - Mental Engagement

Often, our thoughts or emotions can pull us away from the moment. Before engaging with someone, take a brief pause to check in with your internal state. Are you feeling distracted or preoccupied? Are you bringing any emotional baggage into the conversation? Grounding yourself before a conversation reduces mental distraction or flitting and enhances the ability to offer your full attention.

Activity: Before engaging in any important conversation this week, take a few deep breaths, and ask yourself, ‘Am I fully present? Am I in the right space for a conversation? What do I need to let go of to truly listen and connect?’ Then…

1. Gently observe your level of focus and remind your Ego to maintain attention when needed.

2. Can you avoid checking your phone or letting your mind wander?

3. If, like me, you find bright lights or other’s busy-ness distracting, position yourself to avoid external interference (This is a symptom of Irlen and can be managed - check here if you have concerns).

By the end of this week, you should notice a greater sense of empathy and understanding in your relationships. When you show up with full presence, you create an environment where the other person feels heard and valued. This leads to deeper connection, trust, and harmony. Your energy shifts, and the quality of your relationships will reflect that positive change.

Another Outcome

As we become aware of active communication and improve our listening skills, we may also note that some people have little capacity to listen to us. We understand that others are deserving of our attention by practicing these skills, yet do we believe we too are deserving of another’s undivided attention?

Sometimes, we come to realise that a relationship is truly one sided and that we seem to endlessly play the role of listener. We can address this by expressing a need to share and asking the other to listen to us.

And sometimes, we recognise we deserve better from our relationships. As difficult as it may seem, not all relationships are meant to last a lifetime.

Expanding light for ourselves and others through prayer or intent. Photo by Pascal Müller

Ongoing Daily Prayer for Harmony

As we continue this journey of presence, please maintain daily space for intent or prayer, asking for harmony and deeper connection in all our relationships - with each other, between countries, with Mother Earth. Our continued focus on love, compassion, and healing aims to raise the Collective Vibration through our energetic contribution.

Our world must shift. This is occurring with vast, unavoidable change to prompt us to compassion, to love, and to refuse to accept anything less. Our collective focus holds more power than you can imagine. The current call to restore faith in our essential beingness of unconditional love is a growing wave that can heal the illusion of separation. A powerful force of energy created by nothing more than our focused thought and sustained intent. We are the Creators dear ones, and we always were.

Activity: Continue to aim for at least 15 minutes of your daily prayer of choice, a mantra, or silence.

A Suggested Daily Prayer:

Divine Source, support me to be fully present in all my relationships today. Help me listen with an open heart, speak with kindness, and see others through the eyes of compassion. May I foster deeper connections and contribute to the well-being of All that Is by bringing peace and understanding into every interaction.

Amen / Namaste / Thank you / A Ho

By committing to these practices and making presence a priority, you will see a noticeable difference in how you interact with others, creating space for meaningful and harmonious relationships.

JOURNAL

• Take this time to reflect on your interactions.

• What shifts do you notice in how you communicate and connect?

• How does being present affect your energy and the energy of those around you?

Onwards

Next week, we’ll explore the importance of presence in our physical bodies, but for now, let’s continue fostering deeper connections with the people around us, and with ourselves by showing up fully, heart and soul.

Thank you so much for joining me.❤️ Please click the heart and share – together, let’s grow the frequency of love. I appreciate you.

With love and blessings until next time we meet.

Blessed be

Michelle Cowles

Spiritual Healer, Energy Therapist

Copyright © Michelle Cowles 2025

You can also find me at www.michellecowles.com

Disclaimer: The information on this page is general, lifestyle information and should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. If this article raises mental health issues, please contact your General Practitioner, mental health worker, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 (Australia) OR find support by country at www.helpguide.org.