LISTENING…

Listening to others is a critical skill, one has to possess, and continuously hone it. Listening is not, not speaking, when someone else is speaking. It is also not being silent, while the other person speaks. Listening is paying attention to what the other person is staying, and making an effort to understand them, and try to see things as they see it. Not as simple as it appears.

The world that we have come to live in – nay, the world we have created for ourselves, has little or no room for listening to the opinion of others. Most of the times, we are not interested in listening to the other view – which could possibly be a counter view to ours.* Sadly, and *no wonder, we see such unprecedented levels of conflict, in the family, and  almost all aspects in the world at large.

We are not interested to listed to the view, opinion and perspective of others in an open and genuine way. We have come to believe, that everyone should listen to our view, but we don’t intend to extend the same courtesy to others. We are right, and they are wrong…period.

Tragedy lies in what we have come to believe in, and affirm it on a daily basis. We are now the ‘kings’ of our lives. We decide what is good and right for us. If others have a problem with that; or others have a different view; or others disagree with us – then it is they who have to alter their view and their position – not us…almost never us.* We can see this *self-annihilating principle in operation, in almost all conflicts.

The Bible speaks quite emphatically on this subject – “5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,…”15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.” – Proverbs 1:5; 12:15

Therefore, let us give room for ourselves to be wrong. Let us learn to listen to the opposing view, however difficult it may be. Let us be open and willing to the possibility of the others being right. It will greatly help all of us, when we approach disagreements and conflicts with open and transparent lines of communication, and with a desire to see and understand the views expressed by other. This is truly being civilised and cultured in our thought, word and conduct.