Soulful Listening in a Noisy World with Terri Lonowski
In our increasingly noisy world filled with distractions and divisiveness, we've lost the art of truly listening. Julie sits down with Terry Lenowski, founder of Soulful Listening, to explore how we can reconnect through deeper, more intentional listening practices.
We are living in a listening crisis
-50% of Americans experience loneliness - equivalent health risk to smoking 15 cigarettes daily
-We've moved from "listening to understand" to "listening to respond"
-Technology and busyness have eliminated traditional connection spaces (family dinner table)
-We're in "talking and waiting to talk" mode rather than truly connecting
The Five Elements of Soulful Listening
1. Self-Care
Includes how we talk to ourselves, emotional intelligence range, movement, nutrition, and sleep
2. Becoming Fully Present
Getting into your body through intentional breathing
Listening to your body's wisdom and signals
3. Quantum Listening
"If active listening and empathy had a love child"
Listening with all five senses and beyond
4. Inspired Action
Taking action based on insights gained, with no strings attached
5. The Feedback Loop
Letting people know you're taking action on their behalf
Key Insights
On Curiosity vs. Being Right
Ask yourself: "Do I want to be right, or do I want to be in relationship?"
Enter conversations without preconceived outcomes
Come with curiosity about your own beliefs and others' perspectives
Practical Tips for Better Listening
Use "Tell me more" as a bridge phrase when triggered
Ask for clarification: "What I heard you say was... is that what you meant?"
Practice on low-stakes conversations first
Start with listening to yourself through meditation, journaling, or quiet reflection
When we truly listen - to ourselves and others - we create the deep connections essential for thriving. If you want to improve your listening skills, check out this episode!
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About Terri
Terri is the founder of Soulful Listening®, is a heart-centered communication visionary, inspiring change worldwide through keynotes, thought-provoking articles, podcasts, work with leaders, and more! Terri embodies warm, deep connection, inspired by her Grandma Helga. Her holistic five-element approach supported by neuroscience, sets the stage for resolving communication breakdowns and igniting untapped potential, in the workplace and beyond.
She is a TEDx Speaker with nearing 200K views; a featured author in “The Gifts of Pain”; past chair of the American Counseling Association Foundation, representing over 50,000 professional counselors; and has led human-centered design teams to showcase Workforce Innovations at The White House, twice. Terri is also an alumnus of top tiered leadership training at icons like The Disney Institute and Franklin Covey.
To learn more visit https://soulfullistening.com and follow Terri on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
Watch her TEDx Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHvsxN0dHiY