I had a revelation today. It's more to do with social environment but I want to share it anyway. I found a way to stop babbling in class without floating away. And, it gave me the exact kind of of environmental effect I was looking for. Instead of trying to fight the feeling of the room. Instead of trying to say all the things that shouldn't be unsaid. I directed everything into waiting for someone else to say it and then clearly and affirmatively agreed with them.

After a while it started to take hold and everyone's active engagement started going up and it was the kind of place I wanted to be. I stopped compensating and started nurturing (also stopped getting in people's way). Didn't even really understand what I was doing until I stopped doing it. The key was deciding that it's okay to not be part of the "us" and it is okay to be the "other". In fact, it can be a powerful tool for creating recognition.

Active listening is great in one on one's but it can have a cascading affect in some group settings. So why not most of them. School is in session.