How Do You Listen?

by: Rev. Johnnie Bloom-Ramirez

When you hear positive feedback,

how do you listen?

Do I hear it as an affirmation of your work,

your time, and your effort,

or

Do you hear it as a hammer poised to

strike in our heart of hearts?

A thinly veiled attempt to humor you.

When you feel good,

how do you act?

Do you embrace the joy, experience the calm,

 and elevate the moment?

or

Do you shrink away, internalize the anxiety,

and wait for the other shoe to drop?

When you are loved,

how do you respond?

Do you cherish it, run toward it,

and allow it to wash over you like oxygen?

or

Do you avoid it, hide from it,

and allow yourself to breathe in doubt?

You chose.

You listen to that still, soft voice.

You hear that it is telling you that you

are worthy

of all the things.

You deserve

all the things.

You have earned

all the things

Hear the feedback, feel the feelings, and absorb the love.

Embrace it all.

You are human

You are whole

You are holy

You are wholly loved

You are divine.

You don’t need permission to

Allow yourself to listen.