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Listening Can Be Tricky

Listening isn’t something we think of often because it’s innate—or so we think! Actually, many times we confuse listening with responding. In other words, we listen to respond. Unfortunately, listening this way is the opposite of true hearing because the second we begin to formulate a response, we stop paying attention to what’s being said, and our focus shifts to what we’re planning to say.

A dictionary definition of listening is “to pay attention to someone or something in order to hear what is being said.” The point of listening is to gain understanding. It’s not to win an argument, push an agenda, sound lofty, or even to give insight. The book of Proverbs tells us that listening helps us to increase our learning, give us a new perspective, and expand our realm of knowledge.

So the next time someone is speaking to you, take notice of what is happening in your thought life. Are you formulating a response, or are you paying attention? If you’ve derailed, stop and make a mental note to actively listen. Listening will make a huge difference concerning your relationships and your understanding of the world.

Shannon Morrison
South Oklahoma City Campus Team