Compassionate listening: Straight from the Heart

Do you listen with your ears, or your heart? Is it possible to listen with both? The art of listening is not to be confused with hearing. We are always hearing, most of the time subconsciously. Listening is done by choice, but once you have made that choice what comes next? 

In the August 18 FamiliesConnect session “Listen from your Heart, Not your Ears,” Shirley Hickman and Kelley Thompson will lead discussions about the fear that can come with listening intently, and the roadblocks that present themselves along the way. We will chat about empathy vs. sympathy and how important non-verbal communication is as a listening skill. You will have an opportunity to ask questions as we travel this listening journey together. 

You will leave this session with a “toolkit” of tips for listening with your heart that you can practice daily. This is something that Threads of Life Volunteer Family Guides learn in their training, but it is not something that is only suitable for using when listening to families impacted by workplace fatalities, life-altering injuries or occupational disease. It can be used everyday in so many different situations. Think of how many times a day you are called on to listen intently. Learning to listen with your heart will make these interactions more meaningful and supportive. Just like any new skill, it will take practice to learn to listen with your heart but the first step is learning how. Join us to learn more about compassionate listening.