"I want to practice choosing 'love' and 'playfulness' first": My experience with Kokowa-san's active listening

Today, I had a session with Kokowa-san from 'A Place of Harmony for Mothers and Children' as part of her 100-person active listening challenge.

I had some personal realizations during this session, so I'd like to write about them.

▼ Kokowa-san's 100-person active listening challenge

The reason I signed up was that I happened to see a note from a follower who had experienced Kokowa-san's active listening, and I just followed my intuition and applied. ^^

I am a home-based worker who tends to stay indoors, and I usually only talk to or meet people one-on-one if I trust them. However, after reading Kokowa-san's profile and her usual articles, I felt that she was conducting these activities and challenges with a wonderful desire to "deliver love and a peaceful world to children."

Even though we were meeting for the first time, I thought, "I would love to talk to her." The smile on Kokowa-san's face on the screen was warmer than I imagined, and it was a smile that made me feel relieved. She listened to my rambling (lol) stories about parenting and work without interrupting. I especially resonated with the words of Kokowa-san, a former nursery teacher and special needs school staff member, who said,

"In parenting, the mother's state of mind is what matters most."

Thanks to her, I was able to talk with peace of mind from start to finish. Thank you so much!

If I were to summarize my impressions in one phrase, it would be, "I want to be someone who chooses love." This phrase came to mind because of what Kokowa-san said at the end.

In life, accidents happen in our daily lives, such as at work or in parenting, don't they? Sometimes we convince ourselves that we "must feel this way," and sometimes we react reflexively, wondering, "Why is this happening?"

Perhaps due to my past experiences or my personality, I tend to focus on "anxiety, fear, and risks," and even when nothing has happened, I often unconsciously focus more on actions and thoughts to prevent them.

Of course, there are times when that is necessary and useful, but I have felt afterward that if it is excessive, it might not have a good influence on myself or those around me. It's like I'm making life harder for myself.

But through Kokowa-san's words, I realized again that I can also choose my own way of thinking and acting by focusing on "love and playfulness."

First, I want to ask myself, "Which one do I want to experience now?" "Which action or thought should I choose?" and try to base my thoughts and actions on "love, hope, and playfulness" as much as possible.

It's a small difference in awareness, but I'm sure that would make me feel more natural and make my days more enjoyable, and as a result, I could circulate kindness and positive influence to the people around me.

That said, I have long-standing habits, so it might be difficult to change immediately, but I want to practice little by little!

My time with Kokowa-san was not just about "having someone listen to me," but also a time to listen to "my own voice" again.

This was my first time experiencing active listening like this, and there is a sense of security in having someone wait for you while you search for words. For someone like me who tends to take time to put thoughts and feelings into words, Kokowa-san's gentle, quiet space was very much appreciated.

In addition to listening gently, I felt that Kokowa-san is someone who mysteriously knows how to gently offer the words that the other person needs at that very moment. It was a very valuable experience.

Kokowa-san, thank you so much!

Kokowa-san has taken on a 100-person challenge with her active listening, and she is still accepting requests. If you are interested, please try experiencing it for yourself via the link below!

I would like to continue supporting her as well. I really love her warm posts that she shares regularly.

May Kokowa-san's gentle circle reach those who need it. ^^

When you post on note, you get to have these wonderful encounters and learning experiences. I feel grateful to be able to re-examine my own heart through these connections.

I am truly grateful for this connection and the realization I gained.

To everyone reading this article, thank you as always.

Well then, I will also try to be conscious of "choosing love" at my own pace, little by little, starting in my daily life. While having fun. ^^

Thank you for reading until the end.

▼Kokowa-san's note