listening

Listening—what a generous act! To listen is to give a gift to another and to oneself. Listening is a treasure that enriches both the giver and the receiver.

In listening, we set aside our pride. To truly listen, we cannot assume that we already know; there is more to learn, to discover. We are open.

To listen, we empty ourselves of preconditioned opinions and we see first-hand that in the emptiness there is a fullness. The empty space is filled with generous presence.

In true listening, we are happy to listen in silence to silence. It is enough just to be together. The best listening happens in person.

The world is filled with spaces where people just want to be seen and heard. It is tempting to add my voice to the mix, to say what I think needs to be said (and I often do so hastily). But if I am to offer an apt word, I must first listen to what is really being said. When I really listen, I discover that my listening helps others listen to themselves—and listening becomes our teacher. To listen is to learn and grow.

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listening

reflections by troy cady

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*Photo by Warren Wong via Unsplash. Creative Commons License.