Are you listening?

How often do we say "I'm sorry, can you repeat that?" I know I do more than I care to admit.   I am often distracted and disengaged from conversations with my friends and family. And yet, when I am in a reading or a coaching session I am all ears. 100% of my attention and presence is focused on my client and their words, both spoken and unspoken. Why do the people closest to me deserve any less respect than those I work with? I think I can multitask. I can listen and reply to a text at the same time, can't I?   After all, I am being quiet and hearing them.   Hearing and listening are 2 different activities. I hear dogs barking, kids laughing and cars driving by but I am not listening to them. They are just noise. Listening is a skill that needs to be developed. It needs to be nurtured and cultivated. It needs to be practiced. Not being heard is a common complaint among couples but I would go so far as to say it is so common that being heard is so affirming that it can truly change the dynamics of a challenging relationship. Remember, listen to understand. Understand so you can appreciate. Appreciate so you can have empathy and compassion. Respond from a place of empathy and compassion. We all need that.