Is Listening a Gift

Where else is our mind when we think we’re listening? We’re simply not good at paying attention. We try to keep so many balls of attention in the air 

Trying to juggle many things proves bad for all the things we juggle. When we juggle, we’re only touching one of the balls at a time and the others are on their own for 90% of the journey around the circle. So, what if we didn’t try to juggle and gave all our attention to one thing for a short time? Then go on to the next and the nexts.

Shut up and bring it in. Be here. Be now. Actually listen to what’s being said. 

Next, WHY are we listening. Most of us are thinking about what we should say in response. That puts the focus on us and what we’re going to say, not on the point the other person is making. What ARE they saying? That’s what we should be thinking about not what we’re going to say. 

Think what a gift you are giving to someone when you really listen to them. You put them and their ideas front and center for a little while. You make them feel important. You take in their ideas and give them soil in which to grow. And they do the same for you. 

It’s easy to think of listening as lots of work but good listening is letting the other person do the work. You just observe and absorb. Then your brain plays with it and responding will happen spontaneously. Less work—better results.