How would you define Listening? Do You Think You Listen Well? Have You Experienced Being Heard Very Often?
What do you normally feel when you leave a conversation with another person? Have you felt like you had been truly heard and understood – and do you think you gave the other person the impression that she/he had been truly heard and understood by you?
The other day I had many interactions with people while I was running errands. I was struck by noticing just how often we (people) interrupt others. I noticed how often we tend to not hear what the other person is saying, and assume what the other person believes before the person finishes speaking their idea or thought - I noticed that it seems we have a propensity to jump in with our own thoughts, opinions, or answers before the other person is finished talking or sharing what they have to say. Have you experienced this -experienced your self interrupting others often, or being interrupted often by others?
It made me want to be more attentive to how I communicate with others - to be a better listener, and to honor and get to know the heart of others by truly being present with them and listening to each word they speak. I may need my friends' help with this.....
There is an elegant divine wondrous beauty in the simplicity of being with another person - to listening to and getting to hear their unique heart beat through communication which honors hearts. When I have experience someone who has listened well I have felt acknowledged and seen by them. I left my time with them feeling like I had been known by them. It is always a rich experience. I desire to give others the same kind of experience of my interactions with them. I believe this kind of listening allows for a relational connection which is fostered and life giving to us and to others. God created our hearts for love, to receive and give love. When we allow for this purpose of God's intention for our hearts to be known by others and for their hearts to be known by us, we are truly blessed, indeed - we always leave that kind of interaction with such joy, contentment, and peace. I believe we do because this kind of honoring another person joins our hearts with God's Intention for us to be intimately known by others and by God. In Psalm 139, God says each of our thoughts matters to Him and that He knows our thoughts before we even speak them. That is some radical listening, indeed! When we truly allow for others to know us, and are willing to know others I believe it joins our hearts with God’s heart of intimacy.
As I thought about these things I thought I would like ask you how do you define listening? Do you think you listen well? Have you experienced being heard very often in your interactions? What do you normally feel when you leave a conversation? Have you felt like you have been truly heard and understood - and do you think you gave the other person the impression that she/he had been truly heard and understood by you?