Knowing how to Listen
The Bible lavishes praise on those who are willing to listen, while scorning those who do not. According to the book of Proverbs, whoever listens to sound advice will remain among the wise. We should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, according to the Apostle James. Telling a narrative to someone who doesn't listen is like to waking a sleeper from a profound slumber, as the holy authors have discovered.
A common listening difficulty is that we recollect something connected to what another person is saying while they are speaking, and we are ready to "have our say" as soon as a pause comes. Then there are the chats, which may be lively but are plagued with interruptions and little genuine listening.
Conversation does not always come naturally, and we must be resourceful in our attempts to initiate it. Presumption, or the inclination to continuously display our own insights and wisdom, should be avoided in such situations. On the contrary, it is beneficial to demonstrate that we are open and responsive to new ideas, ready to learn from others, and therefore to continue to broaden our range of interests. Then we'll pay close attention to subjects that may not first pique our interest. This does not indicate that we are being hypocritical, but rather that we are making a genuine attempt to rise above our own perspectives and learn from others.
Daring and caution, curiosity in people and moderation, risk and acceptable statements are all required to start a discussion. We are unable to talk spontaneously. We must be prepared to retract any hasty or unsuitable remarks we may have said without thinking, or to revise a forceful statement that we should have given more thought to. In any case, excellent interactions create an impression. Later on, the ideas and trains of thought voiced on both sides come to mind, resulting in fresh insights and a desire to continue the conversation.
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