Learn to Listen and Care

Have you ever felt like the person you're talking to is not even listening to you?

Truth is, they probably aren't. 

It is a sad thing to notice when conversing with someone, but it probably happens more often than we may realize. This is because some spent more time thinking about the next relevant thing to say, instead of being in the moment and enjoy someone's company and their words.

I'm not sure this is actually anyone's fault, so listening is a skill, which means it is something that one learns how to do over an extended amount of period. But it isn't a skill most people talk about and are proud of. 

Since listening is a skill that can be learned, here are a few tips of how to effectively listen:

1. Face the speaker and maintain eye contact

1. Be attentive and get rid of distractions

1. Don't jump to conclusions and keep an open mind

1. Think about what is being said and picture it in your head

1. Simply listen and don't give your "solutions" 

1. Ask questions for clarification

The key here is to be present and in the moment. 

Even if the information shared is boring, listen; because if they're sharing it with you, it is because they trust you. And trust is something special between people that easily go away. 

So think about these few tips and try to apply them to everyday situations, just until they become ingrained in you. Because it is nice being heard and knowing someone care about what you're saying. So the least we could do is show them the same courtesy and respect, and in that way, we can learn to care about each other in a deeper sense. 

And this is something that we inherently are looking for in life: to care and to be cared for.