Why work on listening?
There are many many reasons why it is important to work on our listening skills. Apart from being a key skill in the workplace and in life, it is not an overstatement to say that the art of listening is critical to successful relationships.
Without listening, we have what George Bernard Shaw called "the illusion of communication". We can tell when there exists a lack of listening in a relationship when there are frequent misunderstandings, hurt feelings and feelings of frustration regarding unmet emotional needs.
It is said that being listened to is so much like being loved that most people don't know the difference.
Truly listening to another human being and allowing another person to express themselves without interrupting, judging, refuting, or discounting is a gift of love – a sacred gift - that we can offer.
For the one expressing themselves, being listened to, heard and understood is like emotional oxygen. When the core human need to be listened to and understood is met, we can focus on greater things in life and in actualizing our potential.
Without this need being met, we struggle and find it hard to function in life and to connect with others. We are struggling for emotional oxygen.
Have you noticed anyone around you who seems to be struggling for emotional oxygen? Can you offer them the gift of your attention today?
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