“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.” Anonymous
The interesting thing about listening is that we are usually doing it in order to have someone listen to us. So does that mean you are really listening? Are you occupying your mind with “when will it be my turn?” Are you interrupting to tell them what is right or wrong? It’s just something to think about.
Listening is probably the most powerful tool that we have as human beings. If you just allow yourself to listen without having the need to talk or fill in the blanks, big things can happen in your life. Think about it if everyone is running around waiting for their turn to speak or just speaking incessantly because no one is listening, then what impact would it have on someone’s life if you just sat and listened without judgment and without answers. You have an opportunity to change too. If you can listen without an agenda it will free you up. There is so much to learn and talking all the time will never allow for that to happen. Listening is a gift and I think people who give it have more fulfilling lives.
Today I am going to listen more and talk less. I am going to be an avenue for the people I encounter to share and feel heard. I challenge you to do the same.
Today I am grateful for my peaceful days and my life that keeps unfolding in magical ways.
I like this, Ashley. This is a good lesson for me. I can't wait to jump in and talk. I've often tried to analyze why it is I do that. I think for so long in my past, I felt I didn't have a voice and now I do and I'm going to talk until I drive everyone crazy or away. I will keep trying to be that better listener to others, to you, and especially to God and to His plan for me.
ReplyDeleteOf course, we all have different temperaments which naturally give us this gift of being good listeners and some of us have to try harder and with wisdom and time, we can be the good listeners, too.