Listen Yourself Alive - Part 1
Listen Yourself Alive
Part 1 of 3
Recently, I gave a talk at a conference on Spirituality and Deep Listening in Prague - The Listening World Summit. My talk is called Listen Yourself Alive. The theme for the whole day was Why Does Listening Matter? and the overall theme for the conference was Listening That Connects.
Some of the people there use these principles in their corporate executive training work, their psychotherapy, for others, it's the basis of their performance coaching with high-level athletes.
Essentially, it's the core of conversations that change everything in people's lives.
Here is my talk (part one, as it's rather long for one blog):
I've been doing a lot of listening lately.
I've been listening with some of you in the online group, Listening to Ignite the Human Spirit. I've been listening with you to some of our wonderful speakers and others on the new Listening World podcast - A World That Listens.
In facilitating the online group, listening changed for me, became deeper, newer.
Listening came alive.
I used to think listening was a skill. Even deep listening as a skill. If I could just get it right or perfect it once and for all. I could be done. I could go around listening, and I don't know, something good would happen. I didn't really have a defined end goal to my "perfecting listening quest", but it definitely had an end.
I know I've seen something new and shifted my reality when "previous Sara" looks hilarious and cute to me now. Ah, she's so cute, I just want to give her a little hug.
But Listening itself came alive.
Listening is not something we master and then move on from. At least not for me.
It's got a hold of me now. I've passed a point of no return. I can never be her again. I had an insight.
Listening began to be in everything and everyone, everywhere. All the time. Listening deeply as a practice of presence. With no thought, no repeating back or seeking to get the words right.
Listening as a flow of being alive
Listening as a flow of love.
Listening as a flow of connection.
Connection to the wide and deep full experience of life.
There's a listening in everything. In every emotion. There's aliveness in everything and every emotion. Nothing needs to change. Action flows naturally from our being.
The feeling of this is very beautiful.
You fall more deeply into something when you listen to it. You are in a receiving state. You are fully present with that which you are listening to. Whether another person, an emotion, or life itself.
You fall into joy, fall into love, you fall into life. There's a deep intimacy that comes about when you fall fully present into something.
When I think about being fully listening to life, all the experiences come to mind, and they are all rich. Life begins to give to you and lights up in a new way with that full connection. That desire or willingness to be with it. As you would with a lover. Let life be your lover.
What life wants to bring through you starts to emerge. There's a connection and flow. A giving and a giving unto you.
Next week, we'll continue on with the second part of Listen Yourself Alive.
This week’s Experiment:
See what happens if you listen (hint: it's a state of receptivity) to life itself without judgment or trying to fix anything. You might be surprised. :)
Stay tuned for part two next week.
With Love,
Sara Joy
Upcoming Events
Immersion Retreat - Save the Date!
We are holding our annual Immersion Retreat on Saturday, September 19, 2026, in Guelph, ON. This is a day to fully immerse yourself in the peace, joy, and aliveness already within you. Details coming soon!
Contact Nancy for information at frontdesk@drsaraoneill.com
More Content Like This
Wondering what Sara Joy is seeing fresh and new each day? Check out the Daily Muse - https://www.liveyouralivelife.com/daily-muse
Free Video Series! I recently created a free video series for clients and people wanting to know more about her work. This is "The Basics" about her approach and what she wishes everyone knew in life to live more alive in all areas.
You can access it here: https://www.liveyouralivelife.com/. Just scroll down until you find Get Started - Free Mini Course
The Listening World Podcast - A World That Listens: Experiences in Deep Listening - Join Sara Joy O'Neill from The Listening World in conversations with thought leaders, fresh voices, and others about truly listening from the inside out. You can find the podcast on a few platforms, but here are two:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3omzBIBBbKFslA5zpcUQiG?si=5d06e5a77e444115
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZLFZ7J18RnM?si=qN4uxv6hqevzriu0