Ikigai Thought for Today: Art of Listening
The subtle art of listening to others.
Audio narration by David Marlow
The most challenging aspect of effectively listening is overcoming the all too human tendency to jump to conclusions about what we hear based on what we already know.
We have a wealth of knowledge, and it is easy to believe we know more than we do. It's always tempting to label what we hear before we completely understand them.
Rather than being in the present conversation, we 'hear' what is in our memories and the events behind us.
To listen effectively, one must be patient, curious, and withhold judgment, careful not to rush to decide what one hears.
One of the most profound gifts you can give another human being is genuinely listening to them.
You hear what matters to them, their struggles, and what they value. Listening at this level opens doors to encouragement as well.
If you want to encourage someone, start with listening.
While this applies to listening to others, it also applies to hearing in our own lives.
As Howard Thurman said, "There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls."
One of the most profound gifts you can give another human being is genuinely listening to them.
That includes ourselves, our nature, our essence, and our Ikigai.
🌀 Reflection:
🌱 What would it mean to listen with patience and curiosity while withholding judgment?
🌿 For others?
🍃 For yourself?
Quest well.
Ahhh. Genuine listening instead of the more common habit of simply waiting for one’s turn to speak. I’m wondering if it is the fact that many people don’t know their own biases and thus they are filtering thru them without awareness?
When do we explore what true listening is David? Most people that exercise are big on the Core (Heart) of our physical nature which as I do appreciate it is! When do we understand our true nature is both physical and spiritual in different realms yet in the same being. I may have noted in the past that the words > silent and listen, have the same letters just re-arranged differently. Is this just a coincidence? What is the ultimate purpose of our Ikigai if it is not to listen to the silence of our soul and in that silent search do we not truly hear! Be it Purpose, Essence or Harmony there is still the question of > The Way, the Truth and the Life of the One with a relationship with each of us! John 14.6