Listen More
Impacts: Mind, Community
“It is the province of knowledge to speak, and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
“The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when one asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer.” – Henry David Thoreau
When we stop to really listen to the people around us we give ourselves the opportunity to truly engage with and participate. If we choose to remain closed or focused on our own stuff we inadvertently miss the opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with others. We chop-off what might have been the easiest way to open doors and create opportunities.
It’s not surprising that a culture built on concepts of individualism would produce so many people that find it hard to listen. As a teenager one of my favorite quotes was, “Opinions are like assholes, everyone’s got one and most of them stink.” In hindsight, pun intended, this simple sound bite actually tells a much larger story about our culture and begs the question, why do we take opposing positions so quickly. Why not just take other peoples’ opinions with a grain of salt, appreciate the person’s point of view, and glean what we can?
I’m not sure that anyone can become a perfect listener but those that try will find themselves opening new doors and taking great strides toward a happier life.
Take Action
- Begin with family and friends. Stop to listen and carefully consider what they have to say.
- Engage in discussion. Avoid arguements. Instead focus on exploring and discovering why others feel the way they do. Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.
