What does it mean to listen?

The art of listening is more than hearing stimuli. It is a process of yielding to, taking in, digesting, and then reflecting.

To truly listen, we must be vulnerable, open, and willing to let another have our attention. Listening is a gift of presence; an act of love.

When we listen, the whole world opens to us. We begin to hear what’s between the words of our loved ones, colleagues, neighbors, ourselves, God. Listening is about compassionate honesty - is the foundation for all understanding. Through the conscious act of listening, we can develop meaningful connections and solid relationships built on mutual respect and consideration. We can develop our inner sense of knowing. We can cultivate creativity, wonder, intelligence, and empathy.

Listening is reflective, not reflexive.

Listening is not performed solely through the sense of hearing. It is a fully immersive action where all the senses can be engaged.

With a multitude of messages daily coming into our lives, it’s ever more pertinent to learn how silence can nurture us. When we don’t slow down to pause, we could miss the most important messages of our lives.