Listen Deeply to Amplify Your Senses

When we listen actively, we make a conscious choice to stop talking and open our ears!

Source: Fizkes, Adobe Stock, used with permission.

Since the world is moving so fast, we must activate and amplify our senses. Not just our five senses—seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, and tasting—we also need to put our mental senses, our "mental sonar" to work. This means listening deeply, intuiting, feeling, and experiencing—all in real-time. Our mental sonar lets us put our relationship awareness into action.

Most of us don't listen well. We learn to listen like we speak. We are too preoccupied with where we are going. We spend too much time thinking about how we will respond, or even worse, how we can one-up the person talking to us. By being an active listener, we make a conscious choice to open our ears and stop talking so much!

Conscious and aware people listen well. Think about the people you enjoy talking with—chances are, they're the deep listeners in your life. Make the effort to swipe away all of the noise and backstories to use a clean mental slate to listen, learn, and deepen your understanding.

Can you take the time to ask more questions and make fewer declarations? Take a moment to walk in other people's shoes to find fresh ways to relate.

Empathy is the Secret Weapon

Deep listening starts with having an emotional ear. Good communication is conscious. You are aware of your intentions, the situation, your psychology, and theirs. When you listen deeply to others, you demonstrate your respect for them and your willingness to learn more. Being empathetic is not always easy. The secret is to understand what is influencing your reactions and work hard to put yourself in the other's shoes.

What is Awareness in Action?

1. Awareness of Self
   In order to be a deep listener, you must be actively aware. Being aware of yourself requires you to know your own perceptions, thoughts, and feelings. Self-awareness also involves the willingness and the ability to change the way you see, think, and feel to adapt to changing circumstances.
2. Awareness of Relationships
   Being aware of the thoughts and feelings of others and the impact your actions have on them is called your relational awareness. It includes the ability to change your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as you interact with others.
3. Awareness of the Environment
   Environmental awareness involves understanding and adapting to the environment around you that impacts you and gives societal context to what you are listening to and dealing with.

Refrain from making quick judgements and use empathy to feel for others.

Source: JackF, Adobe Stock, Used with permission.

Practice your Listening Skills to become a Deeper Listener

Take an opportunity to practice empathy and deep listening. By expressing empathy and compassion, deeper relationships can be born and the environment can feel a little warmer.

Listening Deeply Tips

1. Pay close attention to what others say and what they don't say
2. Refrain from making quick judgments about ideas different from yours
3. Be open to surprises
4. Be ready and willing to learn something new
5. Ask others what excites and motivates them
6. Honor others with your full attention
7. Share something personal about yourself