Couple's Exercise: Listening Mirror
An exercise for couples and how to improve their communication. It's not about advice or who's right or wrong.
It’s essential as well as conforting, to know that you are being heard. Being heard is not equal to offering advice or recommendations from the listener, sometimes someone just wants to know and feel at ease that they are being heard.
Try this out with your significant other, it’s a simple yet powerful technique for couples.
Listening Mirror Exercise:
Find a Quiet Natural Setting: Choose a tranquil spot outdoors, such as a serene garden, a gentle riverside, or a quiet forest clearing. Nature's ambiance enhances focus and reduces distractions .
Settle into the Space: Sit comfortably facing each other. Take a few moments to breathe deeply and attune to your surroundings, lettting the natural peace settle your minds.
Share and Reflect: One partner shares their thoughts for a few minutes without interruption. This could be about feelings, a recentt experience, or any topic of importance.
Mirror Back: The listening partner mirrors back what they heard, focusing on understanding and empathy rather than solutions or judgments. This is not about parroting, but reflecting the essence of what was shared .
Switch Roles: After a brief discussion on the experience, switch roles and repeat the process. It’s important to know you both are comfortable with this practice.
Remember that this is only a listening practice, it’s ideal that the listener is calm and only hears without reacting to the other. If you think about it, it iss a sort of meditation practice for the one who is listening.
Practice this exercise in a setting that transmits tranquility, if possible go somewhere situated in nature.