| My beautiful grand-daughter laying in her crib, crying. | | | | He would, days later, ask me about how something, |
| Crying was her way of saying something was wrong. | | | | that I talked to him about, was going. Was I really |
| There was no other way for her to tell us what was | | | | hearing this right? Somebody really listened to what I |
| wrong, except to cry. Crying would get someones | | | | said. He actually remembered what I said and asked |
| attention and then her needs would be met. | | | | me about it?I felt important. I felt valued, but most |
| As time goes on we all learn how to communicate | | | | of all, I felt loved. |
| our wants and needs. If little brother is bothering us | | | | I grew up in a home that everyone talks and no one |
| we learn how to signal trouble for him. Or we learn | | | | listens. Every person just talks over everyone else. |
| how to turn on the charm with grandpa to get that | | | | To this day, when we get together as a family, it is |
| ice cream we want. | | | | just a big noise of individuals talking, and talking loud, |
| Childhood to young adult. Little hearts desired. Those | | | | so as to be heard. I would just look around at this |
| same young people think those wants are really | | | | chaotic disorder of words hurried into meaningless |
| needs.They insist on them and consider that this is | | | | space and no one is hearing them, let alone |
| their right to have these possessions. I have seen it | | | | understanding them. |
| in my own family and I am sure many of you have | | | | Well I quickly learned it was not easy to undo what |
| seen it in yours as | | | | years of talking had done. I had to re-program |
| Regrettably we have grown up to consider that the | | | | myself and force myself to learn to listen. Now I |
| the human race owes me, and must listen to what I | | | | don't mean just sitting still and being quiet and letting |
| am crying about. Hello! I grew up thinking this way. It | | | | the other person talk. If this was all it took, you |
| was a lengthy and challenging journey to understand | | | | might as well talk to a wall. Walls will probably listen |
| that as long as I was forever talking, I wasn't hearing | | | | to you just as well as anybody else would. You have |
| what anyone else was saying. nor could I reply to | | | | to learn to hear and understand.... with your heart. |
| anyone. I was never going to understand and be | | | | You heard the old saying. "God gave you two ears |
| mature if I didn't study the exceptional art of listening | | | | and one mouth." That should tell you something. |
| with your heart. | | | | I have a business that I run. Now, I know a lot of |
| "The squeaky wheel gets the grease", that's what | | | | people that do their business with their mouths, but |
| your thinking. Sad to say, most of the time that is | | | | that is the old fashioned way. I do business with my |
| true. Sales people talk a lot. People that talk a lot | | | | ears now. People buy from people that they trust. |
| move up the ladder quicker than anybody else. They | | | | When I found a friend that listened to me and took |
| step on everybody's toes to get wherever they are | | | | the time to learn who I am, I trusted him. I liked him, |
| going and to be heard. They are forever running a | | | | because he gave me something that no one else |
| hundred miles an hour, and never stop to smell the | | | | ever did. He gave me his precious time and he |
| roses. It is not in their make-up. | | | | listened to me. He didn't say it with words, but with |
| But most of the people that I know that are like this | | | | his heart he was saying, "Brian, you're important to |
| are never really happy. They struggle with | | | | me, and I care about you." For you business people, |
| relationships. Getting what they want and | | | | you will get a lot more sales when you learn the skill |
| manipulating others always gets in the way of a true | | | | of listening with your heart. |
| relationship. They are still in that babies crib crying for | | | | Not only will listening with your heart do wonders for |
| their needs to be met. | | | | your business, but wait till you try it at home. Your |
| Most people don't know how to listen. They proceed | | | | wife will think that you died and someone has taken |
| through the motions like they are listening, but they | | | | over your body. Your kids will actually want to help |
| aren't. They are just looking for the opening exit out | | | | you around the house. Because they will have found, |
| the door. I too was one of these people on this path | | | | not just a dad, but a dad who wants to take time |
| until I met a someone who truly listened to me. This | | | | listening to them. You'll make them feel important, |
| person became a very close friend of mine. He took | | | | validated, and most of all... loved. |
| the time to stop what he was doing and listen to me. | | | | Try it. It won't be an easy transition, but with |
| I enjoyed our meetings. I mean he truly listened, and | | | | constant work, you will nail it down and get really |
| he cared, he sincerely cared. I could tell, he was not | | | | good at it. It will change your life. |
| faking it. | | | | |