Hearing is a sensory efficiency. The ability to recognise or interpret a sound, whatever that might be.
Listening is a different mettle of fish. It happens when we put in the thought and effort to understand what it means. Listening comes with far greater responsibility. And if one does it with intent, focus and encounter the experience and emotion behind the words, that diligence puts a new spin. Which can be worrying or scary because the narrative might actually be throwing exactly what you have been hearing but not wanting to listen and understand.
” Hearing is listening to what is said. Listening is hearing what isn’t said “- Simon Sinek
The heart of any conversation lies in listening. One is not sure whether it is the power and flexibility of the English language or a subtle message that comes through. The letters in the world ‘listen’, also make up the word ‘silent’.
A quote from the writer David Augsburger has since proven true over and over: “Being heard is so close to being loved that, for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.”
Silence can be deafening!