In The Book of James the author tells us to “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” In other words, we should keep quiet and keep our cool. But what about that listening part?

How many times have we been in conversations where we hear the other person, but we aren’t truly listening to them? I would venture to say it happens quite a lot. We can get so amped up to be heard ourselves that we end up having two monologues rather than a dialogue.

Listening requires way more effort than just hearing someone. But it is required for good communication. And after a day of listening to your counter parties, you become mentally exhausted. But it is worth it. When we listen, others feel like they have been seen, heard and understood.

Take the time to listen when engaged with others. Take the extra time to listen with your heart…