How I learned to shut up and the peace it brought me.
You hear it all the time. Listen more, talk less. You have two ears and one mouth. Actively listen instead of thinking of what to say next. It seems simple but why should I listen when I have good ideas to share. I love talking, especially about me. Most people do.
Here is how the story went. My sister and I started a podcast called Swift.ly. I was editing the podcast and was cringing hard. And not for the reason most would think. Yes, listening to one’s voice is cringeworthy but that is a different story. What bothered me was how inattentive I was being to my sister. Actively listening to the conversation I realized that the character that was me in the podcast was not actively listening to her. He kept interrupting. Or he would guess what she was going to say next and be wrong. It was embracing. I was being a terrible conversationalist and brother. Clearly I was preparing for what I was going to say next instead of actively listening to her. It was at that moment that I reflected on all my conversations ever. This was not an isolated mistake.
It was then that I realized how little understanding occurs in a conversation. Since, I have started to really listen to conversations. It has brought me a sense of peace when I do it actively. It allows me to worry less about what to say next or what someone might think of me. Instead, I focus on one thing, understanding the other person fully. Only then can I respond.
::Shutting up and only listening brings peace::