I know that for me these ‘aha’ moments are the key to growth. Sometimes they come as a result of a search. Sometimes they come on you when you least expect them. Sometimes they are unwelcome interruptions that you simply want to ignore, but can’t - no matter how hard you try.
It’s the later type of ‘aha’ moment that interests me. You see, the ideas we want to resist, those that we have the most emotional ‘charge’ about, are the ones that can bring on the best results.
It’s these unwelcome interruptions to our status quo that are so instructive. And yet we are by the very timing of them, less likely to listen. When we are having an ‘aha’ moment that we didn’t expect, it is often HARD to listen. I choose a little mantra to help me at these times to tune into the lessons.
When it’s hard to listen, Listen Harder!
For example;
- It’s the end of hard day. You’re tired and exhausted and your spouse starts presenting a difference of opinion to you. Listen Harder!
- It’s the staff member who leaves your team and metaphorically ‘kicks the cat’ on the way out as they leave. Listen Harder!
- It’s the spontaneous call out of the blue from a friend, when you had only moments before been thinking about them. Right then it’s time to, Listen Harder!
Ideas can change your life, but only if you open your mind and receive them.