The Art of Listening
Posted: Thursday, January 24, 2008
by Michael Kocis
http://www.prescottlmt.com
I remember reading somewhere " God gave you two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you speak." O.K. another one of those cute little diddies that roll off the brain faster than a fresh rain on a waxed frog.
Now, though it does have a ring of truth to it, it is a negative comment directly aimed at pointing out someones flaw. I can't really imagine anyone taking that statement as a complement.
I'm talking grown adults, that while engaged in a conversation anxiously wait to give their opinion, or answer the question or worse, try to top the story they just heard. (yes I said heard, hearing and listening are totally different) We've all heard someone talk and didn't listen to a word they said.
Let's be honest here, have YOU ever found yourself in the presence of a person who was speaking directly to you all the while you were THINKING of a response? Well guess what ? You weren't listening.
They were talking and you were thinking. No wonder we don't understand each other half the time or argue over such meaningless things. We never stopped to listen.
So why is it we don't seem to have the capacity to listen to one another ? It's actually because of a few different reasons.
The obvious answer is that so many people that speak really don't have anything to say worth listening too. So now that we have that one out of the way, what's the real reason?
Because like most human traits, the art of listening must be learned. It has to be taught, understood and practiced. But because it just happens and we can do it we think we're good at it. Truth is most people suck at listening, they simply never learned how.
Don't believe me, ask any woman what she'd like in a mate and up at the top of that list will be " Someone that will listen to me." We all want that, just women understand it's importance a little bit better.
I'd like to leave you with a little "test" if you will. Some of you may have already heard it others not. But you might just be surprised when you apply it to the people you know. Enjoy and be nice.
You're the bus driver, you stop at a McDonald's and pick up 5 kids, you go left 4 blocks then stop at a Wendy's and pick up another 6 kids, you turn right and go 7 blocks stopping at the Burger King where 2 kids get off and 3 get on the bus you then turn right and make it to the school at exactly 8:00 a.m.
Question: How old is the bus driver ?
Michael Kocis
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)I'm sorry, Micky - what was that?? hee, hee - call me a dork. This is so true! I have heard that saying at church many times and it is not meant to be a compliment, but rather a reminder that we need to learn to listen better. I can only imagine how wonderful the world would be if we all listened to God a whole lot more than we do! Thanks for another wonderful article. I am looking forward to reading more from you! TeresaI agree, the one we should "learn" to listen to most is the voice of God. In whatever form it takes at that particular moment. Be it a sentence from a child, a glance from a stranger, or that thought we have at 5:00 a.m. that forces us to begin writing on an online writer's community. wink... Michael
The answer is 42.11.
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