Kay Lindahl is founder of The Listening Center, author of the award winning book, The Sacred Art of Listening, and a Certified Listening Professional. She is a skilled presenter and workshop leader who teaches that listening is a creative force that transforms relationships. She demonstrates listening as a way of being profoundly present with each other and our own inner wisdom.
Kay participates in many community projects and is on the Board of Directors for The Interfaith Observer, the Rumi Educational Center, and Women of Spirit and Faith. She is an Ambassador for the Parliament of the World’s Religions, a past trustee of the Global Council for the United Religions Initiative, an international movement to create peace among religions and is Past Chair of the North American Interfaith Network. She is a dedicated spokesperson for the interfaith movement, an ordained interfaith minister and an Honorary Canon to the Cathedral Center of St. Paul in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Kay also serves on the Program Group for Ecumenical and Interreligious Life for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. She is a member of the Forge Guild for Spiritual Leaders and The International Listening Association.
Lindahl has presented her work in diverse settings—local, regional, national and international. Locally she has created programs, board retreats and ongoing series of workshops for congregations as well as in-service training for non-profit organizations and lectures on college campuses.
In addition she is the author of Practicing the Sacred Art of Listening, How Does God Listen co-editor of Women, Spirituality, and Transformative Leadership.
She is a summa cum laude graduate of Pepperdine University. Kay lives in Long Beach, CA, where she is often visited by her children and ten grandchildren.
Lessons from the Show
Kay talked to us about her life and work and offered us many wonderful lessons that point us towards an authentic, happy and fulfilling life and career including:
- There is a difference between listening to understand and listening to respond, and most of us spend too much time doing the latter;
- Listening is an art, a choice, and a gift, and if we are to do it well, we need to train ourselves and to shift our culture;
- Central to listening well is the use of silence. This can be moments – mini-pauses – in conversation, or more expansive periods of silence, all of which lead to more space and an open-mindedness.
You can contact Kay and you can find out more about her work at her websites, sacredlistening.com and womenofspiritandfaith.org.