5 Ways To Listen
How much of your relationships are marked by meaningful conversation? Part of fostering a space for people to connect, explore, reflect, and grow in relationships is deep listening - to the Spirit in you and in the people around you.
The more you practice deep listening, the more you will be aware of what God is up to in your life and the lives around you! The hope is that you will be encouraged and equipped to show up in your relationships with deep listening together!
When was the last time you recently felt heard? What about that person, interaction, or conversation do you appreciate? Now, reflect on a moment when you knew you weren't being listened to and how that made you feel.
Here are five ways to listen to practice in your conversations!
Listen with your mind: Be present! How can you give the other person your full attention?
Listen with your body: Be interested! How does your body language (eye contact, tone, posture, facial expressions, non-verbal queues) communicate that you are curious?
Listen with your words: Be intentional! How might you use your words to affirm and encourage?
Listen with your intuition: Be empathetic! How can you use emotional awareness to connect with others through shared experience and vulnerability?
Listen with the Holy Spirit: Be discerning! How are you inviting the Holy Spirit into the conversation and making room to let Holy Spirit speak through you?
Show up well by partnering with the Spirit in loving people where they are, as they are through deep listening. As you challenge yourself and others to become better listeners through the practice of meaningful conversation, see how your relationships with God and others deepen!