Hearing vs. Listening

Often we are hearing, but not listening. The majority of us muddle through life hearing many, many things, but we're not really paying attention to what is actually being said -- not really listening.

We talk just to hear ourselves talk. We are so anxious to get our idea out in a conversation, we don't listen to what the other person is saying -- we're just looking to interject with our idea.

Hearing is something we do naturally. We automatically hear and process sound. Listening is something we choose to do. We choose to listen during a conversation.

Listening requires complete attention and is how we learn. The more we listen, the more we learn.

Next time you find yourself anxious to interject during a conversation, take a moment to really listen to what the other person is saying.

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