September 21, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 35

Listening: To Others and Ourselves

I’ve spent a lot of time over the last two weeks thinking about listening, writing about listening, and talking about listening with people who have read my words on listening. And I have spent quite a bit of time trying to listen. 

Listening to sermons, podcasts, music, people, and the news. One of the benefits of listening is that you learn about people, their dreams, their failures, and their struggles. When you understand them, you may know how they feel about world, national, and local events. When you listen and learn these things, you can respond to and care for them more effectively. 

While listening to podcasts and the news, I gain information. Some is good, some is bad. Some is true, some is untrue. Some news is encouraging, while other news discourages me, angers me, and makes me terribly sad. 

When gathering information, I try to listen to myself. If I don’t listen to and understand what my mind, body, and soul are saying to me, I risk fatigue and burnout. If that happens, I’m of no use to anyone. I must take my own advice. Listening to music, walking, and silence become keys to renewal and recovery. 

Effective listening is a key to good communication in business and personal relationships, but it never happens if we don’t listen to ourselves. Take care of yourself and listen to what your mind, body, heart, and soul are telling you. 

I love you.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved