communication – Of Undisputed Origin

The Best Gift You Can Give

December 22, 2016December 22, 2016 Madeline JohnsonLeave a comment

The best gift you can give anyone is your full and true presence.

Distractions are everywhere, and who has the time for anyone, really?

I resolve from this moment forward to make more time for truer communication with those I love. This is what makes life more memorable.

Generous Listening

Inspired by Becoming Wise

I’m thinking about how important it is to listen generously. How to compassionately communicate and hear another’s soul, even through the most difficult conversations.

To listen with an awakened heart & mind. To listen openly, without trying immediately to fix the problem at hand or impulsively come up with an answer right now.

To drop the agenda.

I’m thinking about how improved my relationships would be if I just follow the emotion of the moment, if I let the conversation flow.

What if I tolerated more of them and watched my timing of words? What if I made room for the difficult to pour out, for the pain to set itself free? Dissipate.

How would the conversation go if I were more flexible with my speech? If I softened my tone? If I held out my arms?

What if I let the conversation move where it will, if I gave up control?

Imagine if I released myself of judging everything to not a single word. How would it look if I decided to just observe it all as if I had never heard it before. What would I see? If I listened less guardedly.

Healing Words

The next opportunity I have for a true conversation I will include words of kindness. I will believe that I am exactly what is needed to help heal the situation. Everything needs a measure of healing, don’t you think?

I vow to not let differences define what is possible between us. I can argue with your opinion, but not your experience.

I will try, yes I will try very hard, to understand why you are behaving the way you are behaving. Perhaps you are in pain. What can I say or do to help you soothe it away?

I won’t look with anger, but I will try to find the good in you, even during your worst of rage.

A More Courageous Conversation

Even more importantly, I will open up my vulnerable parts to keep the conversation real. It may feel raw, uneasy and probably very uncomfortable, but that is where we grow. I will admit my weaknesses and recognize that what I have done so far has gotten me here, not where I want to be.

Feature Photo – Artist: Egon Schiele

Keep it Simple

September 30, 2015 Madeline Johnson2 Comments

We Have To Stop

September 17, 2015September 17, 2015 Madeline Johnson3 Comments

Growing in popularity, Instagram’s @We_have_to_stop is dedicated to capturing people on their phones and devices while in public.

A crowd-sourced account that documents the social isolation and bizarre relationships we have with our devices of delusion in a world of increasing chaos and confusion.

Photos of people around the world, taking selfies, posting updates, merging calls, drafting emails, filming injustices, snapping and filtering their every meal.

My Friend Gary calls this the severe maladaptive behavior of Generation K – as in Kardashians.

I wonder what it will take to wake the world up again to true human interaction, face-to-face communication and co-existence with compassion.

What I Like About You

September 15, 2015 Madeline Johnson12 Comments

What I adore about me is you. Yes, you.

I am enthusiastically curious about you. I have a genuine interest in learning more about how you think, how you live, what works for you, floats your boat, inspires and ignites your soul.

Ever since I was a teen, I’ve been absorbed and engrossed in learning about others. I use to draft interview scripts for all of my friends. Yes, I was that annoying girl. Pusher of The Proust Questionnaire.

The purpose of my blog “Undisputed Origin” is to inspire all of us to the magic of this amazing moment right now, our connectivity and the wonders of this world.

My motto – Lighten up, Spark Joy, Create Love.

I would love it if you would respond by answering one of the following questions.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
What do you value most in your friends?
What is your motto?

These Horns Were Made for Tooting

Your voice

August 7, 2015August 7, 2015 Madeline Johnson1 Comment

There is a voice within you that no one, not even you has ever heard. Give yourself the opportunity of silence and begin to develop your listening in order to hear, deep within yourself, the music of your own spirit. – John O’Donahue

out of the mouths of babes

July 25, 2015 Madeline JohnsonLeave a comment

Much of the noise on our planet is made by one species: Humanity. What do other people unconsciously hear and feel when they hear me (you) speak? What are the cross modal effects of my (your) communication with others? From the feedback of my frustrating failed efforts to get my point across (not always, but often and mostly about very important subjects with people who mean so much to me), I realize that I must focus on transforming my tone. Wait, not just my tone, but my register, timbre, prosody, pace, pitch and volume.

The goal – to develop a more authentic voice while finding the courage to communicate more purposely and compassionately. To develop a more powerful and expressive voice and ability to listen while ultimately creating healthier relationships. I think of it as taking the tightness and toughness out of my talk.

The act of tuning in and turning ON a softer, more encouraging voice, will begin to turn my speech into my truth. My voice and words should empower those around me, not make them angry and defensive.

The objective is to take the anger and pain out of circulation, which in turn will help to heal.

Imagine creating sound consciously and consuming sound consciously and designing all of our environments consciously for sound. Designing a world where understanding would become the norm.

Watching & Learning

Julian Treasure “How to Speak So People Listen” Ted Talks