Julia Griffin - author Home About Writings Contact us
20th August 2024
Written for The Persimmon Tree Short Takes
Why are we not listening enough? Division within people is regularly demonstrated, and much of this has to do with human behaviour of which listening, or lack of listening, is an important part.
To try and answer my question, I believe humans have created the right conditions for imbalance in all areas of life. Climate change, disease, pollution, and materialism have not just come about on their own. They have been caused by our behaviour. As these destructive elements increase and strengthen, and without addressing the root cause, we find ourselves in a spiral of despair. We are without answers to how we go forward, and communication in all its forms is suffering.
Should we start by addressing the lack of truth, the greed, the materialism that has taken hold, and the stark pictures and stories of the extremes of people's lives? All people matter, we should all be equal; we are human with purpose, value and an opportunity to learn from each other. How can we do that if we don't communicate in a way that is open, gracious and truthful?
One of the problems that has increased in recent times is noise. It is one of the pollutants destroying people and our natural world, taking away the ability to think clearly and communicate openly and truthfully. Do we have the patience and tolerance to listen to another person; or do we just want to listen to our own views and those other voices that reflect them?
From my own experience, good listening comes when you have a certain stability and confidence about yourself which comes from good self-knowledge and understanding. As I built up this self-knowledge and acceptance of myself as an individual, I found more space for others and listening came more naturally. I was curious to hear what people said.
So, if we want to increase the ability to listen, do we need to look at how we educate our children? If education was looked upon as a whole-life opportunity to learn rather than the first twenty years of our lives, our children could have a chance to get to know themselves in a stress-free environment within nature and with their friends and family. Happy, stable young people with purpose and motivation for their future would surely open the gates to more diverse contact between all peoples and nations, with a curiosity to listen and learn.
Nature is a great healer and freely offers its bounty; but I wonder if we forget to listen to the wind rustling through the leaves on the trees, the chorus of joyful bird songs, or waves lapping on the shore? The peace that comes from this experience should not be underestimated. And are we not all, deep down, searching for a sense of peace, a place where we can simply be ourselves and be accepted as such, finding a purpose that is individually fulfilling in an environment where we can listen and learn, and teach by example?