Some elements of our group meetings

Why does one share/ask question in the group? First of all, we can appreciate the person who is sharing/asking questions for his/her courage to open up in the group & be vulnerable, not be put down by possible judgements/ridicule etc. The person wants to share/ask questions typically for the following reasons. Of course, there are more reasons which I don’t know how to articulate or I don’t even know: 1. Just to let out the thoughts/memories which are bothering 2. To feel understood by others 3. To belong to the group 4. To seek different viewpoints 5. To seek answers 6. To feel good 7. To get appreciation 8. To show-off 9. To share the knowledge/understanding 10. When someone shares/asks questions in the group, what can we do as a group? 1. Listen carefully with full attention 2. Ask clarification questions, if what is spoken, is not clear or not understood 3. Communicate the affirmations of understanding on what was spoken 4. Provide viewpoints if any 5. Provide answers if any 6. Share our own experiences which may help the person who spoke 7. Most importantly be there together with the person and show the full empathy, compassion, energy 8. Be with the person who spoke, silently for some time, after he/she completes speaking and shower the energy of being together and understood his/her situation/question/sharing What we do typically? 1. Listen partially 2. React to what is being said instead listening fully and then responding 3. More bothered about what to reply rather than fully listening 4. Forming our questions/sharing while the other person is speaking 5. Arguing instead of sharing different viewpoints 6. Finding fault instead of understanding and appreciating that person’s situation/experiences 7. As soon as the other person finished speaking jump in to ask/sharing our own things, without giving time for the other person to have completion Observation on our group meetings Many of the good things happen in our group meetings. There are some more improvements which we can make to reach the level of a true, great and an amazing group in which people can belong and look up to and feel trusted, r