The Art of Listening

Listening is an aspect of your life that you do instinctively. You have been listening since you were born, so this ability has become second nature. In some respects that is good, because without thinking you are aware of your surroundings. However, familiarity creates unconscious behavior. You might have forgotten that there is an art to listening. To be a good listener, you must aware of what you are doing at a conscious level. For some of us, it can be quite a challenge. You may have become so comfortable with what you are currently doing, that you are unaware that there is room for improvement. The better you listen, the more effectively you can respond. This enhanced exchange creates better communication. Better communication leads to improved relationships. Improved relationships create a better world to live in.

Here are some areas to focus on to become a better listener.

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Gratitude – You Can Never Have Too Much

I awoke this morning thankful to see another day.

If we take the time, we all can think of things to be thankful for, but do we?

The more we express our gratitude, even to just ourselves, the better our attitude will be toward all circumstances in life. A recent article in Scientific American Mind, states that showing gratitude can increase your own happiness by as much as 25%.

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