The Lost Art of Listening

It's safe to say that there is more to most people than meets the eye. I mean sure, some people operate at a very "safe" level, meaning that they work very hard at pushing down any feelings or thoughts that surface that might give away anything too close to their hearts. Even so, I'd say that most people - given a safe place and at least one person interested enough to pry a little bit - will let fly that they have some inner experience that is different than what they normally present to the world.

What this means for each of us then, I guess, is that it is important to try and meet the conditions necessary to create a safe space for others, and then to be caring enough to honor that person's experience. I'm serious - it's not just for therapists and counselor-types. You can do it. Just listen, keep your mouth shut about it afterwards, and be respectful of how you think that person might want you to treat the information (I think Jesus said something about that). Think about it, be trustworthy, be patient, and don't assume people want advice. Just listen. What this also means is that we should really stop making assumptions about what people are thinking and feeling and ask. My guess is you're looking for someone to do the same for you.