What is the story we are being told?

Over 2,000 years ago Zeno, the founder of Stoicism, commented on the human tendency to speak more than listen.

“We have two ears and one mouth, therefore we should listen twice as much as we speak.”

We react to the story we tell ourselves, not respond to the story being told to us.

And yes- there are obvious other reasons as to why we have two ears and one mouth. Do enjoy a moment to picture how two mouths and one ear would look… but… the message passes the sniff test for me.

I make a living talking.

But I spend a lot of time listening to the stories and wisdom of other people on podcasts, audio books and in person. I have learned to keep my mouth shut and not have an opinion on everything- although my husband may beg to differ.

It’s not easy, and I have a lot of work to do in being better at it, but I do know that it is often in the silence that the words that need to be said are found.

( I figure since most people don’t yet get excited to learn about stoicism, I would combine it with goat pics which everyone should love…)

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About Becky

Becky Schmooke (pronounced “Smoke”) is a Mindful Leadership Consultant and Speaker, focused on providing action based mindfulness and leadership training to organizations and businesses who are ready to do things differently.

Becky’s Mindful Kitchen, is located outside of Iowa City, and provides truly unique team building and leadership retreats, strategic planning workshops, private parties and classes and weekly summer camps for kids. The commercial teaching kitchen, treehouse, archery range, bush craft skills, first aid training, wood fired pizza oven, chickens, baby goats and timber adventure playground provides endless opportunities for hands on activities.

As a mom to three girls, 60 chickens, 4 goats, 2 dogs and a fire fighter’s wife- life is never boring and provides Becky with endless stories which she uses to illustrate her approach to mindfulness in daily posts on social media.

In all that she does, Becky has one goal, to build confidence in others to take action to live their best life, not just pass time.