Are you a gobbler or a sipper?

I heard someone describe themselves the other day as ‘gobbling down information’, and I recognised myself — I do tend to read books thinking I have to get to the end and then I’ll have finished it; or to find it a challenge to relax into just listening to a teleclass, or a recording of some kind.

At university I perfected the art of doodling while listening to the lecturers, and I still do that today. It does help me to concentrate and it’s one way I’ve learnt of managing the need to ‘gobble’. The problem with gobbling is that you’re so busy getting the information down your throat that, just like gobbling real food, you don’t notice the taste on the way. While with food that is not the end of the world, just that you miss out on savouring the tastes, with information, you often miss out on really embodying what you are hearing or viewing. So if you’re a gobbler, finding a way to slow yourself down is really beneficial. After all, there’s no point in having read lots of books, watched DVDs etc only to have forgotten all the information in them!

With sipping, which I’m now practicing a bit more, I realise that I give myself the time to savour the nuances of a word, the full meaning of a sentence, the impact of a statement on me and my business. This allows for a much greater integration of the lesson being demonstrated, a much easier remembrance of the material on my part, and a greater enjoyment of the process of learning.

If you’re a sipper already, keep on sipping! If you’re a gobbler, try a sip for a change with your next book, DVD, or lecture, and experience something different.