Listening is paying attention. It is the sound of an open mind, the sound of the music of language, the sound of communication.

Listening is patience. It is the asking of questions, and the hearing of sighs. Should you find yourself not listening, the solution is a simple one.

Listen to yourself!

It is so easy to talk. Open your mouth and magically words appear. Sometimes we do not even have to turn on the brain. For many of us, the toughest part of the communication process is to simply be quiet and LISTEN, actively focusing on, paying attention to, and truly hearing what the other person is trying to say.

For those of us who really like to talk, this can be a very difficult thing to do. Most often I must remind myself when it is time to listen. Instead of being concerned about what I will say next in a conversation, I tell myself to stop worrying about myself and be patient enough to really listen.

Let me encourage you this week, to do as I am attempting to do, and that is to focus on listening skills. There are a number of great benefits that come from this kind of commitment, such as learning something we didnt know, saving time, causing someone else to feel good about themselves, and even saving ourselves a headache or two.

Most often when I really need to listen to the person speaking I pretend that I am a "dried up" sponge in the bottom of the kitchen sink. Then each drip from the faucet is like a word that I absorb into my being. This helps me process the information. Then I "play it back" to the person speaking and this confirms to them that I have heard them. Generally, the result of this is harmony and good will.

If you really desire more harmony and good will in your life you may want to consider attempting to listen more and speak less. That is my commitment. I will keep you updated. Let me know what works for you. I will share your ideas in a future article.

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