Dear Seeker,

"If we aren't aware of listening then we don't know what we are receiving."

~ Guy Finley

Excerpted from "The Secret of Letting Go" (p. 244)

Special exercise: Feel the room

As you walk into any room or place, take a moment to sense your surroundings. You can do this anytime, anywhere. When you walk into a meeting at work, take in the room and the people as fully as you can. When you enter any busy place, like a mall or airport or grocery store, work to become aware of the environment. Pause for a moment when you arrive at a party at your friend's house, or even as you walk into your own empty kitchen or bedroom -- and just feel yourself moving into the activity or the emptiness. Any moment you become aware of your surroundings you simultaneously become aware of yourself. And when you are aware of yourself, your attention stays with you. Without our attention we are easily swept away by our environment and don't catch ourselves starting to rush or defend or feel lonely. By working to "feel the room" no matter where you are, you at least start with knowing what you're walking into -- and then where you go from there is up to you.