I remember the first time I was able to experience the power of relaxed silence while dealing with a hostile business situation years ago. This non-hostile mental state of being passively watchful, serenely ready and calmly focused enabled me to motivate and lead with pleasantry and ease.
I was converting a large apartment building into condominiums, and it required extensive renovation. The contractors were arguing with one another, pointing fingers and blaming for unnecessary delays. I asked for a meeting with all of them, where each could take a turn explaining the problem.
What the contractors didn’t know was that they would have to wear Groucho Marx glasses, with the mustache attached, when it came their turn to speak. I opened the discussion with the glasses on, since I was speaking first. Everyone got laughing hysterically, and we resolved all problems within ninety minutes. The project ran smoothly after that. Relaxed silence is an incredibly creative state of mind.
What about you? Have you ever sat with someone and calmly listened while he acted out some unhappy drama of his past? Because the drama isn’t yours, you are alert to what he is saying, and, at the same time, you calmly focus on possible solutions. This is something that he’s too emotionally charged to do. Come on now, how great would that be if you could look at your own soap operas with the same relaxed, silent state of mind?
Life must be built on practical plans of action. Include relaxed silence in your action plan, and you will attract the right and perfect answers you are seeking.
Be sure to check out my latest article for the Huffington Post here.
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Hi Rob, Hilarious! YES I did exactly that this week with all of the relatives coming to my home – got into the right state of mind in advance, and told myself I would observe but not participate in the inevitable drama. Worked like a charm. Would have worked better with Groucho Marx glasses
That’s beautiful, Julie … getting into the ‘objective observer’ state of mind in advance (especially when it comes to family matters. Groucho Marx glasses always bring levity to any situation
Thank you