Listening With Your Eyes

We all would do well to work on our communication skills. How we communicate with others, both in speaking and listening, are key to healthy and positive relationships.

But HOW are you listening?

Often words are chosen carefully to communicate feelings and thoughts, but can also often mask one's true feelings. On top of that we can trick ourselves into thinking one way about something, only to have opposite feelings underneath that we're trying to ignore, hoping they will eventually go away.

A key ingredient to good communication is to listen with your EYES, not just your ears. When someone is speaking with you, pay attention to what you see, as well as what you hear. Does the person's body language and attitude match their words, or is there is disconnection between them?

If you notice a disconnection, first validate what you heard them say, and then point out that the discrepancy between what they said and what you saw in their body language and facial expression. This can become a key to understanding the person better, as well as a way for the person to realize their true feelings about a matter, which may have been eluding them until now.

So listen with your ears AND your eyes. Let them open doors to clearer communication and stronger relationships!

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