There’s a difference between listening, and being quick to do so. To be quick to listen signifies a readiness and desire to do so. And that quality is usually obvious to those being listened to.
Learning to listen is invaluable. But how long does it take us to reach the place where we’re actively looking to do so—not just in life as a whole, but in each conversation or interaction we’re apart of? Because the quicker we reach a posture of listening, the sooner we’ll be ready to hear—and better understand—those around us. This desire may also provoke us to ask questions and pursue conversations that we might otherwise have passed over. And the end result is not just better communication, but the potential for better relationships and a deeper understanding of each other.
Listening is great. And the quicker we learn to actively engage in it the better.