Listen Don't Think - Jewell Utt

I like Judge Judy…for the most part. Her candor is sometimes too harsh for my taste, but I like the fact she stands up for truth and justice. She calls herself a truth detector and often will remark “God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason.” The truth of that statement is worth reflection.

The fact is people don’t listen well. They’re internally focused on what they want to say. The result is many points of a conversation get lost. Good relationships, good communication skills and an ability to see the big picture depend on good listening skills. It’s a habit worth cultivating. The unfortunate truth is the average person grasps only 25-50% of what they hear. This creates a limited understanding and could be the cause of many disputes.

If you always have a better way, offer a comment on every topic, or interrupt frequently, perhaps you are not a good listener. You may want to pay closer attention or consider how you’re perceived by others.

Listening, is a skill that can be developed and worth the practice.
Eye contact, body language and minimum sound–yes and uh huh words– help to keep your mind engaged. It also encourages others that you’re actually interested in what they’re saying. Conversely, if you’re looking around, checking your phone, or constantly interrupting with questions–that’s not active listening. It throws the speaker off course and prevents a topic from moving forward.

The Bible consistently instructs us to use prudence in our speech. The scary thing is our thought life is far more active than our tongue. It’s a challenge to stay engaged, but it’s possible. When we place more importance on others than self, the quality of our presence increases and relationships are strengthened.

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.  (Pr 10:19) ESV

How well do you listen?