Kay Lindahl

Learn How to Contribute More Effectively and Compassionately to the Conversations that Shape Your Life "Anything could happen when we start to talk. Nothing will happen if we don't. That alone makes the way of dialogue a journey worth taking." —from the Epilogue Think of an issue that makes your blood boil. Now imagine lunch with a friend who is just as passionate about it—on the other side. How can the two of you even broach the issue, let alone hear each other with curiosity and compassion? The answer begins long before the lunch does, by learning to engage dialogue as a habit of the heart—an inner transformation that the ancient practices of Christian spirituality can address. This highly readable and timely guide to restoring dialogue shows you how to cultivate this transformation while preparing you to approach your adversaries with curiosity, civility and compassion. With dialogue expert John Backman leading the way, you will: Examine the obstacles that keep you from dialogue: black-and-white thinking, a “distraction lifestyle,” the fear of change and negative impressions from others. Explore the strength of character from which healthy dialogue springs—and the work of the soul that cultivates them. Learn practical guidelines for dialogue and how they work in an imperfect world. Encounter anecdotes of dialogue in action, from resolutions of interpersonal conflict to difficult dialogues on some of the most divisive issues of our age. Use provocative questions at the end of each chapter to stimulate group discussion and individual reflection.

A follow-up to 'The Sacred Art of Listening', 'Practising the Sacred Art Of Listening' offers a more practical approach with exercises and specific practices to enhance our capacity to listen. It incorporates content from workshops, as well as lessons learned from workshop participants over the years.

Poor listening leads to misunderstandings and lost opportunities. Learning to listen well requires spiritual practice. It happens at work and at home, with strangers and close friends, in heated debates and in quiet conversations—you hear someone speaking, but often you don't truly listen. Kay Lindahl’s highly respected workshops are attended by people from a broad range of backgrounds. Her first book, The Sacred Art of Listening, has been published to acclaim in North America, Europe and Asia. Now she offers practical, easy-to-follow advice and exercises to enhance your capacity to listen in a spirit-filled way. Using examples from her own life and her work as a teacher of the sacred art of listening, Lindahl explores the nature and use of silence, reflection and divine presence as foundational qualities of listening and shows you how you can apply these in your everyday life. This valuable workshop-in-a-book examines the varied ways we are called to deep listening, including: Contemplative listening Reflective listening Heart listening Listening in groups Listening in conversations … and more You will find yourself inspired to discover how different your conversations will be when you stop just talking and start really listening.

Hearing and listening are two different things. Learning to listen—really listen—requires sacred practice. The Sacred Art of Listening guides you through forty practices of deep listening—to our Source, to ourselves, and to each other. Inspiring text and contemplative artwork combine to communicate the three essential qualities of deep listening—silence, reflection and presence. They demonstrate that the key to healthy relationships and spiritual transformation can be as basic as practicing the art of listening. You will learn how to: Speak clearly from the heart Communicate with courage and compassion Heighten your awareness and sensitivity to opportunities for deep listening Enhance your ability to listen to people with different belief systems

Hearing and listening are two different things. Learning to listen—really listen—requires sacred practice.The Sacred Art of Listening guides you through forty practices of deep listening—to our Source, to ourselves, and to each other.Inspiring text and contemplative artwork combine to communicate the three essential qualities of deep listening—silence, reflection and presence. They demonstrate that the key to healthy relationships and spiritual transformation can be as basic as practicing the art of listening.You will learn how to:Speak clearly from the heartCommunicate with courage and compassionHeighten your awareness and sensitivity to opportunities for deep listeningEnhance your ability to listen to people with different belief systems