Ways to listen with compassion, understanding and intention:

• Be present and give speaker your full attention. Don’t drift off into your own thoughts.
• Show interest, be generous, encourage the speaker.  Make eye contact, nod.
• Listen with your heart as well as your ears.
• Make it safe for the speaker to share her thoughts and feelings.
• Listen to every word without interrupting or wishing to speak yourself.
• When the speaker is finished, acknowledge what you heard without judging or correcting.

“I felt it shelter to speak to you.” ~ Emily Dickinson