Is Your Message Being Heard?

So many people that I speak with are passionate about the world, the environment, about children or animals, about healing, spiritual growth, about what they want to see stop happening, and what they want to see manifest. 

They have a message.  But is it being heard? 

One of the coolest things about having a business is that it enables you to share your message.  Because business at its best—business for the New World Age—is the highest form of self expression.  It’s a vehicle for you to make your contribution, provide service, create the life that you really want to live, and make money so that you extend your reach beyond your physical presence.  It gives you resources, and leverage, and a Village of people who are interested in what you have to say. 

What many people do not understand is that sharing your message effectively is a two-way street.  It means knowing how to communicate in a way that other people can hear what you are sharing.  Yes, you need to take a stand.  Yes, you need to speak about what you believe in.  But if you do it in a way that makes people wrong, they won’t want to listen to you.  Inspiration is very different from coercion.

Most of us were raised in a pretty coercive environment. What that means is you may get confused between knowing what is forcing yourself on other people, and what is expressing yourself.  And if you are like most people, you err on the side of being more quiet and undercover than expressive.  If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.  Or maybe when you do speak up, you overdo it because you think you have to because that’s the only way the message will get out.  Well, that doesn’t work either, does it?

How do you speak up so that other people can hear you?  You have to listen to your people. And you have to speak your truth from your heart.  And between the two, you create an alchemy that is only yours to give. 

There’s a trust factor here. Trust in yourself.  And their trust in you. Trust that you can communicate well and effectively with your people. And trust that you develop with them—so that they will actually listen to you—not just hear you, but actually listen.

Listen for the words they use.  Listen for what they say is important to them.  Listen to where the stress and strain is from their perspective.  As the expert, you do know things and have a perspective that they do not.  That’s a key reason you can help them.  But if they don’t believe you understand them, then they won’t listen.

This is such an interesting, powerful dance!  And so worth exploring, practicing, listening, speaking, moving into and around.  The blessed connection between you and your people—what they want and need, and what you offer.  Who you are, who they are, who she is, who he is, who you are together.

That’s why you have to talk with people.  You cannot define your message in a vacuum and expect anyone to hear it.  You have to interact because a message is meant to communicate, not just express. 

Who will you talk with this week?  Who will you listen to?  What will you say?  What will be the particular alchemy between you, and what will be communicated?  It is upon this that your business, your impact, and your income are created.