Embracing International Listening Day: A Reflection
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Chapter 1: The Significance of Listening
Happy International Listening Day! Are we truly effective listeners?
In a world filled with designated international observances, I often find the concept rather trivial. It seems to echo the behavior of individuals who perform a few charitable acts during the holiday season, only to revert to their less admirable selves for the rest of the year. Nonetheless, the universe has playfully guided me to write about listening on this very day, despite it not being a part of my original plan.
Section 1.1: The Drawbacks of Constant Creation
Over the years, I have extensively discussed the advantages of consistent creation. Having written daily for nearly three years, I've cultivated a wealth of ideas and neural connections. I continue to advocate for this practice, as the benefits are both tangible and invaluable. However, one downside is that as we become more vocal, our ability to listen diminishes. This phenomenon reflects our brain's limited capacity for processing information, where the act of speaking often overshadows the act of listening.
Subsection 1.1.1: A Symbiotic Relationship
While writing and reading are distinct activities, they share a symbiotic relationship. They are not strictly dependent on one another, yet their true potential is only realized when they coexist. Notably, successful writers are typically avid readers, and accomplished musicians are attentive listeners. In my own experience, when I face challenges in writing my daily piece, it often signals a pressing need for a meaningful conversation.
Section 1.2: Enhancing the Listening Experience
If our focus remains solely on consumption without production, the effectiveness of our listening diminishes. Engaging in creative endeavors helps solidify our understanding of the information we encounter. We grasp concepts most effectively when we can teach them. Therefore, the act of creating and sharing our work represents the culmination of the listening journey, transforming ideas and emotions into new content for others to absorb.
Chapter 2: Redefining Active Listening
The first video, "What Will You Do For World Listening Day?" explores various approaches to commemorate this special day. It invites us to reflect on our listening habits and the impact they have on our interactions.
Listening, as taught by conventional education systems, often involves merely sitting quietly and repeating information. However, active listening is a much deeper process. It requires us to connect new insights with our existing knowledge, embedding them within the context of the communicator and ourselves. Listening is about integrating new information into our ongoing thought processes and preparing ourselves for creative expressions—be it conversations, articles, music, or other forms of art.
Indeed, we can afford to pause our listening just as easily as we can choose to halt our creative endeavors.
The second video, "Proclamation recognizing World Listening Day," presented by Councilmember Sayles, emphasizes the importance of this day and the value of listening in our communities.
Today's level of cautious optimism stands at 60%. As I write this, I’m accompanied by the soothing sounds of 'Snoopy' by CS + Kreme.
Thank you for taking the time to read! Your support is crucial as I embark on this journey. I truly appreciate any claps or follows.
Who am I? I am a musician and a writer, intertwining both passions. You can explore my creative world here.