Henry David Thoreau mused that one of the greatest miracles would be if we could actually look through each other's eyes for an instant. Ironically, the best way to see the world through each other's eyes may be with our ears, by listening, really listening to each other.
Listening is not just etiquette; it's a way of loving, honoring and respecting. It's a way of bonding and connecting. It's a way of sharing ourselves and our humanity.
Ways to listen with compassion, understanding and intention:
- Be present. Give the speaker your full attention.
- Show a genuine interest. Encourage the speaker.
- Listen with all your heart.
- Make it safe for the speaker to share his or her thoughts and feelings.
- Listen to every word without interrupting or wishing to speak yourself.
- When the speaker has finished, acknowledge what you heard without judging or correcting.
Wisdom is reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk.
-Doug Larson
From the book 1: How many people does it take to make a difference?
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