Empty listening

Have you noted? We often don’t really listen because we listen for something. We want to hear the proof of what we were suggesting – and that works. Or we listen to show someone we appreciate them. Friendly nodding, we’re are so busy showing our support that we hardly get what the other is saying. Or we pretend to listen but will seize the first opportunity to tear apart the other’s point of view.

This is not what we’re talking about here. We would like to suggest another approach: Listening with not much on your mind. No specific purpose besides really getting what the other would like to tell you.