The Power of Listening and How to Harness it
- ajoyce140
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
In our fast-paced, overstimulating world, it is hard to listen. It is not our fault. We are constantly bombarded by ads for the latest Nike sneakers on our streaming services, personal social media notifications, and huge billboards that line the highway. These distractions exist in an effort to capture your precious attention. Attention is, after all, the greatest currency these days. It becomes almost impossible to tune in to the things that really matter, the sound of nature, our favorite podcast sharing valuable information, or the voice of a dear loved one.
That is why World Listening Day was created. Celebrated every year on July 18th, the day was launched in 2010 by the World Listening Project to encourage people to pause and truly listen to the world around them.
World Listening Day highlights the importance of sound in our daily lives and raises awareness about acoustic ecology, the relationship between living beings and their sonic environments. It invites us to consider how noise pollution affects both people and nature.
You can sign up for listening events today at World Listening Day – July 18th – A global community event, or you can simply tune into the world around you with a little more intention by taking a nature walks, having a heartfelt discussion, or listening to your favorite song.
What Does it Mean to Listen?
Listening vs. hearing, they are two very different things. We are constantly hearing sounds, but we actually do not register the majority of them. Hearing is a passive, involuntary act that uses only the ears.
Listening is an active and intentional process that engages multiple senses, such as eyes, ears, and touch, and requires mental focus and attention. Unlike hearing, which happens naturally, listening is a complex skill that involves both the mind and body to fully understand and interpret a message.
The Power of Listening
Listening has the power to turn into active listening, where we are able to cultivate a deeper understanding of concepts, people, and the world around us. This allows us to have more connected relationships, personal and professional. And relationships are one of the essential keys to happiness and success.
True listening allows us to fully engage with others, recognize and set aside our biases, and create a safe space where people feel genuinely heard and respected. As leadership expert Simon Sinek puts it, “Listening is not the act of hearing the words spoken; it is the art of understanding the meaning behind those words.”
How Can We Become Better Listeners?
Applying active listening can look different in varying circumstances. Listening in conversation is very different from listening to nature. Below are some ways we can practice active listening.
Environment
When we listen to our environment, it can be a form of mindfulness. This can give you an incredible sense of inner peace as well as awareness of your surroundings, increase your energy levels and mental clarity.
Tune In
You can close your eyes, if it is safe to do so and tune into your hearing.
Be Curious
Ask yourself, what am I hearing? Start to actively hear different sounds in your environment, like the buzzing bees, the breeze or the sound of a car in the distance.
Breath and Relax
Take some deep breaths, and you will start to notice your body and mind relaxing.
Enjoy
Continue for as long as you wish until you have reached a peaceful state for your desired length of time.
Conversation
Employing active listening in your conversations can lead to a deeper understanding of people and also more meaningful connections which can give you greater satisfaction in your marriage, friendship and work relationships.
Be Present
Being present starts with focusing on the person speaking. Remove all distractions like your phone and resist the urge to engage with the environment, like looking at the clock or around the room. Instead, look at the person in front of you and give them your undivided attention.
Be Curious and Encourage
Ask questions to further your understanding of what is being spoken about. Encourage the speaker by saying “I understand” and “tell me more”.
Suspend Your Agenda
Resist the urge to interrupt or direct the conversation in a specific direction. Let it flow where it wants to go and enjoy the journey.
Engage
You can share your own perspective and knowledge on the subject being spoken about. This can take the conversation to a new depth, making it more engaging for both participants.
Be Empathetic
If the conversation calls for it, you can employ your heart and show gratitude and compassion to the speaker for sharing their thoughts and feelings.
Pause and Reflect
After the conversation, you can reflect on what you learned and the experience.
Photo of two people sitting looking at a sunset.
Gratitude and Compassion for Those Who Cannot Hear
Experiencing the joy and peace that often come from intentionally listening can bring gratitude to our lives for the ability to hear.
It does raise the question: what about those who are unable to listen?
People with hearing loss, whether age-related or from birth, face significant challenges. It’s not just about missing out on the joy of conversation or music. It’s about struggling in everyday life. Hearing loss can lead to social isolation, difficulty navigating critical interactions like speaking to a doctor or pharmacist, and even safety concerns such as being unable to hear alarms or emergency signals.
Untreated hearing loss has also been linked to increased risk of dementia, decreased work performance, and loss of balance due to the inner ear’s role in stabilizing the body.
While hearing aids offer life-changing support, they can be extremely expensive, leaving many without access to the care they need. This raises important questions, such as: are hearing aids covered by Medicare? The answer often depends on where you live and your insurance provider. If you’ve ever searched "hearing aids near me" only to discover the steep costs, you're not alone.
Support the Gift of Hearing
As we appreciate our listening ears today, let’s remember those who cannot. Consider supporting the hard of hearing through Life for Relief and Development USA (LIFE) Here to Hear program.
LIFE’s project Here to Hear improves the lives of the hearing-impaired. By supporting audiologist humanitarian trips worldwide. These trips deliver treatment and equipment needed by hard of hearing individuals to function with ease in their everyday lives. Services we provide through the program include:
Ear Exam
Ear Cleaning
Hearing Aid Fitting
By donating to Here to Hear, you’re helping someone reconnect with their loved ones, re-enter the workforce, and rediscover the beauty of sound.
Donate now and give the gift of hearing.
