Is listening important? Why is what we hear more important than what we say in our conversations?
It’s been said that the first duty of love is to listen. When we feel heard, we feel loved, known, and understood. Listening is all about communication, and it’s an important skill to cultivate and practice with your spouse.
In today’s video, we’re discussing the importance of effective listening when communicating with your husband or wife.
When your spouse is communicating with you, it’s important to listen to the verbiage–not just to the words being said, but the underlying emotions. Then, reflect those emotions back to your spouse. It’s important to let them know you really understand where they’re coming from (or at least, you’re trying to!).
A skilled listener can ascertain the emotions that underlie what their husband or wife is saying. When you have discerned your spouse’s emotions, it’s important to let them know what you’re interpreting. “What I’m hearing from you is… Is that how you’re feeling?”
When you hit on the right feelings, your spouse’s reaction might be, “Wow, nobody has ever understood me like this! This is the best feeling!” Truly tuning into your spouse is one of the most loving and considerate things you can do for them.
Have you practiced active listening in your marriage? What about your spouse? We’d love to hear more! Leave us a comment below.
would love to read this book. I just found love and he is the best thing that ever happened to me. but would love that we both read this book together