A Story to Tell

      Everybody has a story to tell.  Inside every mind a tale is waiting to be shared.  Somewhere between a biography and a folktale, our lives stories are etched with comedy and tragedy; signfinance and intention.
     
      Commonly we read into our interactions with others and piece together a story from bits of conversation held together with our own assumptions.  Here is a communication excersize which serves to expedite familiarity by sharing tales from a first person point of view.

      It's rather simple.  Sit down with a partner in a quiet place.  Get comfy.  Agree on a question to pose to yourselves,.  For this example I have chosen the question, "What'your story?".  But feel free to ask anything.  From here one person takes a speaking role while the other is a listener.  The Speaker is given space to tell their story from beginning to end without interruption.  The Listeners role is to listen attentively without saying a word.  This allows the Speaker to share her mind, riding on a train of thought, granted time to pause for reflection.  She may dictate the direction of the tale without being led off course by questions or distracting reactions.

      The Listener has a chance to really listen to the unfolding scene. Eye contact is encouraged.  They may nod their head and smile, but such action should be backed with understanding and emotion.  He is not thinking forward to his response.  He is not judging or comparing. With total presence he acts as a receiver for the story.

      Aafter the Speaker has concluded, savor the silence for a moment.  Notice how you feel and, if you want, exchange a few words about your experience before reversing roles and repeating. 

      This experimemt aims to foster friendship and invent emotional intimacy.  In the process it's busy building cocommunication skills and self-awareness.

        Everybody has a story to tell.  As Sant Kirpal Singh has said,
"You know what you know,know so just listen."