In 2023, I moved to India from Colombia with my partner. I felt a lot of mixed emotions, passing from total excitement to bursting into tears because some changes were too much to handle. Whenever I talked with my husband about this struggle, I never felt satisfied with the conversation’s outcome. But why? 😣 I got the answer with this book.
The Review
This book is a precious treasure that must be transmitted as much as possible. In three parts and 106 pages, Michael S. Sorensen taught me how to get better at the simple skill of listening. Yet, my biggest learning from this book was understanding what I needed in those conversations with my husband. I wasn’t looking for solutions or advice; I just wanted validation.
Just to make it clear: I needed ✨ VALIDATION. ✨
As simple as it sounds, most of us don’t know how to give it or how to request it. For that reason, Michael explains its importance and the 4-step validation method to start practicing as soon as possible.
You can’t imagine the number of highlights I’ve discovered in this book. It’s 100% straightforward and goes beyond the advice of “look into the speaker's eyes and nod.” Sorensen created a particular chapter on possible situations and how to deal with those conversations.
Let me know if you read it because I’m eager to check if it worked for others as it did with me.
My Favorite Quotes from I Hear You
“Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something.” ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
“Validation is healing in and of itself. It is not always necessary or appropriate to give advice.”
“Ignoring, dismissing, or suppressing your emotions doesn’t get rid of them; it buries them. It tucks them away to fester and rise again at a later time.”
“Remember: everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something. Remember that we are all looking for love, appreciation, and connection. And remember that, regardless of age, gender, background, or ethnicity, being listened to—and heard—is one of the greatest desires of the human heart.”
About Michael S. Sorensen
Michael S. Sorensen is a full-time business executive. He is the CEO of Trove Brands, which includes products like Owala, BlenderBottle, Whiskware, and EcoBrite, and at Trove Nutrition, which includes Oath Nutrition and Canoo Kids.
Even though he is not a therapist, Michael has had the privilege of receiving mentoring from coaches, counselors, executives, and self-help books for many years.
As a result of this guidance, he has made it
his mission to share his explorations, insights, and discoveries with others.
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For the gossipers, my husband and I have actually learned to recognize when we need validation, and we’re practicing it more. It’s been a game-changer. 🥹 About the Author
Luisa Trujillo is one half of Masala. She's a dreamer, believer, and achiever from a cozy coffee farm in Risaralda, Colombia. Being in an intercultural and interreligious relationship with an Indian 16,000 km away since 2019, she has gained a fair bit of insight into love, travel, and culture.
In her other life, Luisa has been a Coffee Grower, Digital Marketer, English as a Foreign Language Teacher, and Translator with a bachelor's degree in Modern Languages. Thanks to the latter, she is now fluent in Spanish, English, and French and has basic knowledge of Portuguese, Japanese, and Russian.
Relationships, coffee, languages, and a thousand miles later, she decided to start a community online to share her experience through Masala of Cultures along with her other half, Aswin.
Luisa's insights can also be found on other parts of the internet, including NVCC.
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