Listening: The Greatest Form of Love
by: Liane Schmidt
I once read that: “Listening is the greatest form of love” and it definitely took me by surprise; it made me really take time to stop and think. And, I realized, at least in my experience, how very true this statement is.
How many times have you been in a friendship, relationship or situation where, when you really felt understood and heard did you feel better? And how many times did you feel terrible when you felt misunderstood, misinterpreted or even worse, not heard at all? The latter can be sometimes a truer picture of a person’s daily reality, making those who truly listen and care an even more rare gift.
Our best friends become our best friends because they truly know us. They get to know us so well that sometimes they know what we are thinking or what we are going to say even before we say it. This comes from truly caring about what another person says, what is important to another person.
Though it is not always easy to give another, even your most beloved relationships your full attention (a busy schedule, a bad day, etc.) it makes all the difference. Studies have been conducted that even just one hour of attentive time spent with a friend does wonders for your health. We are, after all, social beings and we need one another to survive and thrive. In addition, we all know the studies that have shown that babies who are not held or touched can eventually pass away. Though we grow up, become adults, we all still need true caring and validation of who we are.
Take care of one another and yourself. Best wishes.
January 27th, 2007 at 2:32 am
the fact is, listening is easy. it is in actually doing it that is hard. but it should not be. if we could only be open to ourselves and to what life brings. there should not be too much struggle. **sigh**