Mildly Depressed People More Perceptive Than Others

Science Daily | 11.22.05

Surprisingly, people with mild depression are actually more tuned into the feelings of others than those who aren’t depressed, a team of Queen’s psychologists has discovered.>>More

Tips for Listening to Music

ElderThinker | ElderThink

01.04.11

It's possible to achieve a "state" of perceptive listening. You hear the lyrics, rhythm, and all of the instruments. Put on a favorite tune, one you have heard before. First concentrate on hearing the lyrics all the way through. Is there a story? What is it telling you? Does it call up memories or wishes?

Now play it again and while you are hearing the lyrics, allow the rhythm to come into your mind at the same time. Listen to the melody. You will experience the mood of the artist and what she is trying to say.

This state of listening will take several tries but it's well worth it because it adds richness to your life in many ways. It is the most rewarding listening experience, clearing our mind of everything but the pure sound of music.

You will discover that music can actually "take you away" because you have no other thoughts except the pure sounds you are hearing.

Drawing Attention to Life

Anne Doyle's Practice of Perceptive Psychology

Sometimes the world around us offers more than we can take in. Our minds get overloaded so we shut off some of our sensors. We become preoccupied with our to-do lists, mental replaying of conversations, planning our multi-taking steps.

We are rapidly becoming perceptually bereft and need to learn again how to notice...life.>>More

Secrets and Science of Body Language

Carol Kinsey Gorman, Ph.D.

Positive vs Negative Energy

Gretchen Heuring | ElderThink

According to Judith Orloff, MD, a physician, author and mystic, people can transmit both positive and negative energy. To help us understand us, Dr. Orloff says that people transmitting positive energy "exude an inviting sense of heart, compassion, and support." We intuitively feel safe, relaxed, wanting to get closer to that person. Often we feel more peaceful around them and they make us feel better, more energetic and more optimistic.

Dr. Orloff says that people who transmit negative energy can make us feel "demeaned, constricted, or attacked." She says we feel unsafe, tense, or on guard when we are around them and want to get away from them. We feel less energetic and optimistic when we are near them.

You can find more information about this at Dr. Orloff's website: www.drjudithorloff.com

Practice of Perception

Some Are More Perceptive

Gretchen Heuring | ElderThink | 1.1.10

Some people seem to be naturally more perceptive and aware of the experiences and feelings of others. Just like natural physical athletes, naturally empathetic people do not have to work as hard to understand others who are around them.

Sympathy or empathy can be learned (or improved) through listening and attentiveness.

We can learn about what is going on with others by observing body language, facial expressions, tone of voice and choices.

Experiencing others more fully in this way can make our lives richer and we are happier as a result.

Empathy is a very important piece in the quest for happiness.

Older people are frequently good listeners and more empathetic. The have more years of experience at paying attention to others and older persons often have greater opportunity for reflection.

eyes

How To Be A Good Listener

There are five important and well-recognized components to being a good listener. How many of them are easy for you? Give yourself a test.

1. Most important, make eye contact and pay attention. How can you be listening if you aren't really listening?

2. How is your body when you are really listening to someone? Do you tilt your head? How are your shoulders? When you want to be a good listener, put your body in this position.

3. Respond by telling the speaker what he or she has been saying in your own words. Tell them often during the conversation.

4. Do not change the subject. Listen and stay with the speaker for as long as necessary.

5. If you disagree with what the speaker is saying to you, keep those thoughts to yourself until the person is finished speaking. Then after you have told the speaker what he or she has been saying, you can decide whether you want to pose an argument.