I sit across the table from a precious friend. There’s hot coffee in hand and a moment to be honest and real.
The distractions are plentiful.
The music overhead captures my attention. The couple sitting across from us seems to be in deep conversation and my mind begins to wonder about them. I can hear my friend, but my mind is having a hard time centering on her words.
I try to pull my attention back to my moment. I want to be in this moment.
And then my phone vibrates. Another distraction to keep me from truly listening and savoring this moment.
I remember 3 keys to help me listen.
1. Tune out distractions.
2. Look her in the eyes.
3. Don’t just listen, but hear.
I quietly put my cell phone away and engage her eyes. This is a moment I don’t want to let slip by as we aren’t able to get together as often these days. I begin to concentrate on her words to truly hear the heart behind what she is saying.
As I leave uplifted from our beautiful conversation, I wonder where this lost art of listening went.
To listen is more than hearing.
It is to understand the heart-felt meaning behind the words that come in inaudible ways.
Do you have a hard time listening or focusing on the conversation right in front of you?
Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. Come join the community.
The eye thing is huge for me. If someone isn’t looking at me when I’m speaking then I don’t think they are truly listening. I always try to make eye contact.
Spot on! Love how you said “To listen is more than hearing”.
Oh Alene, so true where is the art of listening?? To really listen to what someone is saying is such a way to show love and care. Love this
You are beautiful my friend. Love this. I hope I showed Bob that I was doing more than just hearing. All the best to you. (((Hugs)))
Good reminder. It’s always a conscious choice I need to make to listen intently.
Oh, if only we could give to others the gift of attentiveness we give more easily to less important things! Livng in a distracting, distracted society makes real, honest, heart-to-heart listening rare indeed. Food for thought here, Ailene. Lovely post. Thank you :) xx
Dear Alene
I agree with this one! We often listen and think we hear, but we should be very attentive to the words people do not speak. Often those words tell a bigger story and bare a hurting heart that otherwise is hiding behind a smile.
Much love
Mia
Learning the difference between listening and really hearing is so hard but so needed. Thank you for the reminder