Listen and don't Judge
Listening without pre judging
If there were a universal bumper sticker that everyone should have on their car, it should be; “Listen and don’t judge”
There is a wise saying; “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
How often have you been talking with someone, or attended a meeting, and the one who is speaking is allowed to finish their point? Most of the conversation is interrupted by a comment from another person who is eager to make their own point, or object to the point being made. Often if the person is allowed to finish their statement, an answer is provided and doesn’t warrant the interruption.
Listening and not judging is a real skill. It’s a spiritual skill that takes time to master.
We have all been brought up in different cultures, environments and situations so everyone learns at a different pace. Wherever you are, try the art of listening and try to catch yourself making a judgement as you do. For example; a colleague interrupts someone in a meeting making a presentation, and corrects the person on a specific point. This person constantly has to exert their opinion on any matter, and projects to be all knowledgeable about everything. This information has been gathered by you, and you have made a judgement about the person who has interrupted the presentation by labeling them “all knowledgeable”! This is how easy it is to judge a person. Without even realizing it, you have labelled this person.
It’s an easy trap to fall into, and your ego is leading the way. Your ego loves to place category tags of meaning on everything and everyone. So how does one get around it?
Try to detach yourself. Practice it every day, and visualize your higher self-watching the entire event unfold from the other side. Don’t allow your emotions to get carried away, and take both the presenter, and the person interrupting the presentation, for who they are. Know that you cannot change them. The only person you can alter is yourself. But most of all, listen to what people have to say, and don’t judge what they are saying and how they are saying it.
Avoid the ego labeling, and keep tabs on yourself when you start to judge different situations, people and circumstances. It really is an art in self-discipline, and will keep you from taking things personally.
There is a wise saying; “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
How often have you been talking with someone, or attended a meeting, and the one who is speaking is allowed to finish their point? Most of the conversation is interrupted by a comment from another person who is eager to make their own point, or object to the point being made. Often if the person is allowed to finish their statement, an answer is provided and doesn’t warrant the interruption.
Listening and not judging is a real skill. It’s a spiritual skill that takes time to master.
We have all been brought up in different cultures, environments and situations so everyone learns at a different pace. Wherever you are, try the art of listening and try to catch yourself making a judgement as you do. For example; a colleague interrupts someone in a meeting making a presentation, and corrects the person on a specific point. This person constantly has to exert their opinion on any matter, and projects to be all knowledgeable about everything. This information has been gathered by you, and you have made a judgement about the person who has interrupted the presentation by labeling them “all knowledgeable”! This is how easy it is to judge a person. Without even realizing it, you have labelled this person.
It’s an easy trap to fall into, and your ego is leading the way. Your ego loves to place category tags of meaning on everything and everyone. So how does one get around it?
Try to detach yourself. Practice it every day, and visualize your higher self-watching the entire event unfold from the other side. Don’t allow your emotions to get carried away, and take both the presenter, and the person interrupting the presentation, for who they are. Know that you cannot change them. The only person you can alter is yourself. But most of all, listen to what people have to say, and don’t judge what they are saying and how they are saying it.
Avoid the ego labeling, and keep tabs on yourself when you start to judge different situations, people and circumstances. It really is an art in self-discipline, and will keep you from taking things personally.
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