Listening

Tonight on the Marriage Course the discussion was on listening. I realized that my listening skills are not so hot. Sila Lee said there are several common hindrances to effective listening. She listed these listener types:

• Reassurer -- the one who says "never mind, it will all be okay."
• Advice giver -- waits for the speaker to finish and then gives advice, whether wanted or no
• Intellectualizer -- takes the discussion into esoterica
• interrupter -- waits for a pause in the speaker's words and then says what is on the mind
• Going off on a tangent -- changes the subject.

I am guilty of at least the first three, and I short circuit my communications with friends, children and wife by doing so.

Lord help me to change those patterns!