The magic of active listening
Hello, everyone, and I hope you have had a good day so far!
I've been reflecting on the importance of active listening as a social skill and how it plays a vital role in our interactions. Before I learned such skills, I thought I was an excellent listener, with friends constantly sharing their concerns, but there seem to be better ways to support and let others feel heard.
I realised that I was used to hearing the words someone was saying and acknowledging them with sympathy instead of empathy. I've come to notice that the proper way to listen to others is to understand their messages and respond thoughtfully, the main purpose of which is to let others feel like they are being heard.
Here are some key aspects of active listening that I noticed:
- presence: being fully present in the conversation without engaging in other activities.
- empathy: understand the speaker's perspective and emotions instead of saying things like "That's too bad."
- telling them you're listening: offering responses like "yep", "umm hmm"
Mastering active listening could help support members in Cups and enhance my connections and interactions with others!
- Discussion questions -
- How does utilising active listening affect your relationship in the real world?
- What challenges do you face when trying to practice active listening, and how do you overcome them?
Would love to hear your insights ❤️