March 12, 2007
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listening
"To listen is very hard, because it asks of us so much
interior stability that we no longer need to prove ourselves
by speeches, arguments, statements, or declarations. True
listeners no longer have an inner need to make their
presence known. They are free to receive, to welcome, to
accept.
"Listening is much more than allowing another to talk while
waiting for a chance to respond. Listening is paying full
attention to others and welcoming them into our very beings.
The beauty of listening is that, those who are listened to
start feeling accepted, start taking their words more
seriously and discovering their own true selves. Listening
is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite
strangers to become friends, to get to know their inner
selves more fully, and even to dare to be silent with you."
- Henri Nouwen, _Bread for the Journey_, entry for March 11~~~
Je crois qu'il faut écouter un peu plus... (I think I need to listen a bit more...)
Comments (1)
that's so true, it's very easy to get close to people who could listen
listening is also something i try to work on because i have a short attention span, but i try
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