It can be difficult to understand others when our focus is on our own response. Are we even processing the words being spoken long enough before we respond?
I presume that many of us have at one point or another felt misunderstood by someone. Maybe they were physically there, but mentally a million miles away; anxious to win an argument, rather than simply accepting another’s heartfelt apology; ignoring a child’s concerns because maybe you were taught to believe that children were meant to be seen, and not heard.
How many relationships in your life could have been savored or salvaged had you listened more closely?
Last year, I started a community group with my local church, intended to promote positivity, communication, and community. Due to COVID, the face-to-face portion turned out to be rather short lived. The traffic significantly slowed, as expected, although a few continued to gather by way of Zoom.
Our weekly focused discussions allowed each person an opportunity to be heard, and to also hear others point of view. The added intent was to demonstrate how important and necessary listening could be for everyone involved. The mere thought that when we all listen to understand one another, we are intentional, and people can feel our sincerity that much more.
Who among us doesn’t hope to be heard, when they speak?
There was a time or two though, where I found my thoughts drifting during our discussions. During those times, I can honestly admit that I was not as connected as I would have liked to have been.
The thing about life is that no one is perfect. We all make mistakes that are worth learning from. Self-awareness allows us to better recognize our patterns and shift, rather than continuing our discussions while disconnected. In doing so, we gain more knowledge, trust and understanding from the people involved. Let’s all learn to Listen to Understand each other better.
Ask Yourself:
What conversation is it time for me to have?
How might I become a better listener for others?
Action Items:
This week, I challenge you to not interrupt others when they speak. Choose to be present in the moment. Truly listening to understand others, often piques our curiosity even further. Through oneness, bonds deepen, trust is formed, and connections are made. Remember, we all deserve to be heard.
“When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen you may learn something new”
Dalai Lama
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