We have all heard the terms and the difference. Heck we’ve all probably been asked are you listening or are you hearing me. It’s possible you’ve been accused of hearing instead of listening. So, what does it all mean? 
The basics are simple. Listening is “to give one’s attention to a sound.” Hearing is “the faculty of perceiving sounds.” Easy enough but what does that mean for life or specifically for your life and those in it.
In that case hearing isn’t always a positive thing. Why? Because you may perceive that someone is speaking but you aren’t really giving them your attention or at least they don’t think you are. That can hurt for a lot of people if they feel like they don’t have your attention because what they could be telling you is very important to them.
There is a third category that comes up often that I think can cause the most trouble. If you are listening to respond. What’s that you ask? Often it comes up in groups or with “hot topics”. You are listening to what they are saying but not to absorb it or learn from it. You have already decided the answer or that you don’t think what they are saying is not valid. There for you are listening for the point they stop, and you can jump in to respond. Dangerous concept because not only can it lead to misunderstandings or loosing key pieces of information you are also losing out on potential opportunities to learn or grow.
So, listening or hearing what should you do. In most cases always listen because you never know what someone might be opening up about and how important it is to them. Give them your full attention and you never know what wonderful things might come up. If you do that you and the world will shine bright. Much Love!
~JMAXX
