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★ Listening

2005 May 25
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I’m curious: for those of you with spiritual influence or care of others, how do you cultivate in others the spiritual discipline of listening?

Yes, I’m serious. Can it be done?

5 Responses leave one →
  1. bill permalink
    May 26, 2005

    As in prayer?

    Reply
  2. Pat permalink
    May 26, 2005

    No, listening to other people, caring about their stories, asking others about hwo their lives are going.

    Reply
  3. Dianne permalink
    May 26, 2005

    We've used "creative listening" in our small groups with good success. It takes more than just that to cultivate a continuing nature of listening but it's a start or one thing to try, perhaps.

    We ask a question, query, whatever and then everyone has ~10 minutes (or however long) to think about what they want to say and write it down. Then you go around the group with only one person talking at a time. Nobody is allowed to comment, question, or talk at all while the person is sharing. Then it's the next person's turn. At the end of all of the sharing (people can pass as they choose) the space is opened up for discussion. While going around the group, though, each person can concentrate on listening to what the person sharing is saying because they have written their own response down and don't need to think about their own response.

    I think it helps to foster the idea of listening instead of always thinking ahead to what you want to say next.

    (please note that I'm writing this comment with no idea of who you are and I've not read any of your blog except for this post so if this is coming out of left field or has already been said, I apologize!)

    Reply
  4. Marlin permalink
    May 27, 2005

    Good questions, Pat. I tried to use a course "Listening for Heaven's sake" by the Cincy-guys, but like all courses, they are classroom-based. Other than that asking lots of questions as a leader in groups and letting other people do the answering and input, seems to work. They see that you are sincere about listening and it becomes the culture of the group. A least sort-of.

    Reply
  5. j permalink
    May 27, 2005

    I tried leaving a comment, but it just got longer and longer so I just posted it on my blog.

    Reply

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