The reason it is so hard to be a good listener is because most people are listening with the intent to judge.

Make some retort. Or think privately in a way that interferes with the message.

The great thing about being a good listener is that you don’t have to and shouldn’t want to rush to judgment on what you’re hearing.

This is not possible for people who are not comfortable in their own shoes.

And a person who has been caught up in self-absorption erroneously thinks that they must comment or offer an opinion from their perspective on everything they hear.

Good listeners don’t have to vie for the attention.

This is not to say that you can’t have an opinion on what you’re hearing or want to offer a comment on what you hear – but for everything?

Listening is not immediately judging.

It is not about us. It’s about them.

No one is going to get hurt if you don’t weigh in on every comment someone shares.

In fact, it’s the reverse.

The more you listen without making it about you, the more others will think you are a great friend and good conversationalist.

Try it.

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