Listen More, Advise Less

This mini podcast is about listening at a deeper level so you can deliver better counsel.

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

Listen More, Advise Less

The Grasshopper dropped by the other day with this little gem:

“Pay attention to the changes they want to make, not the ones you think they should make.”

I sat with that for a while, and the real punch line sounded like this: skip the whole “If I were you . . . ” approach to giving advice.

I get it—it’s totally natural to want to share your angle, your take, your brilliant solution. But the thing is, your angle may not be what they actually need in that moment.

Start here: remember you’re not them. One of my favorite reminders is, “You have no idea what goes on behind closed doors—or in other people’s homes—unless you’re behind those doors or living in that house.” We forget that a lot.

And while we’re at it, steer clear of canned answers . . . unless it’s literally a yes-or-no question. “Do you own a talking cockatoo?” “No, no I don’t.” Otherwise, patterned responses are usually stale. They’re the same old lines people have heard forever—and often ignored for just as long. 

Cookie-cutter answers don’t cut it.

Quick side trip while I’m up on this soapbox: if you’re on Facebook and it’s someone’s birthday, maybe don’t just write “Happy Birthday.” That has all the warmth of a marble countertop. It’s automatic, perfunctory, and it reads like you don’t care much at all. If you’re not going to say something personal, it might actually be kinder to say nothing than to toss in drive-by birthday confetti.

Okay, back to our program.

When someone asks for help, it’s really an invitation—to listen closely to what they’re actually saying, and also to listen inside yourself for something deeper than the usual surface replies. 

Skip the stock answers. Let them float by. The fresh ones you haven’t pre-written in your head are often the ones that land. They’re clearer. Cleaner. Like a sky full of stars.

All the best,
 John