Good things Happen when we learn to Listen to another Person

1. New relationships open; old ones awaken and deepen
2. We become better
3. We are better able to care for our brothers and sisters
4. A new way of saying "I care" is revealed
5. Being listened to reduces feelings of aloneness and exclusion

How to Listen

1. Must make a decision to listen
2. Feels artificial at first-Hard work at first
3. Must suspend judgment & be open to presence of other's heart
4. Body posture must say "I'm open," "I'm interested," "I'm attentive"
5. Maintain good eye contact
6. Track what the speaker is saying on both content and feeling levels
7. Use oral responses often which are affirming throughout the listening

True Listening

1. Keys to Listening
1. Surrender ourselves to another person
2. Pray for them
3. Pray to be open to have love for them
2. People who truly listen are different from people who typically listen
1. We listen with our heart
2. Place other person above our own need to be heard
3. It changes our relationship

Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Me-too-ism
2. Moralizing, preaching, being judgmental
3. Asking questions to satisfy our own curiosity
4. Giving advice (Trying to fix it)
5. Cheap consolation "Oh, that"s not so bad"
6. Demeaning comments "That's foolish," "You are not normal"
7. Arguing with the speaker 
8. Analyzing or interpreting
9. Ignoring obvious heavy emotions

Good listening is a gift to give to another person

Jesus is my model

Kairos IPM