Blog entry for:

active listening is a skill that i have been working on for quite a while now. i know that as a frail, imperfect human being, that i can selectively hear what i want to hear and disregard the rest. since it is my nature to listen only to those things that interest me, i must take extraordinary measures to actually listen to what is being said. and then again there is always the problem with trying to interpret what i am hearing and put my own spin on it.
being human i have my own concerns and thoughts, so i also need to practice the skill of being present for whatever is happening or who ever is sharing. it does no good to try and listen actively if i am thinking about an upcoming event or another person. i also need to set aside my prejudices and bias to prevent me from filtering what is being said, else i will once again be less than active in listening.
so for me, active listening means being present for the situation, turning off the internal conversation that always seems to be running thorough my head and actually listening to what is being said. just because i believe that something you are telling me is not a big deal or is not part of my experie3nce does not mean that it does not have value.
over the course of my recovery i have been learning how to listen. and i mean really listen to what is being shared with me and i will continue to be committed to learning how to do this better. like any skill that is foreign to me, all it takes is a bit of practice and diligence to incorporate it in the set of tools and skills i need for daily living. once i grasp how to do it, it is mine for life and will be available for me to use whenever i choose to use it. and just as medical professionals practice medicine, improving and sharpening their skills over the course of their careers, so i must practice the principle of active listening so i can too be a better listener and friend.
∞ DT ∞