Is it better to listen?

March 22, 2011 8:55am CST
With your ears or with your mind? Do you think that if you listen with your ears then you are not really thinking about what is being said? Or do you think that if you listen with your mind you interpret rather than hear what is actually being said? What do you think? How (if at all) Do you listen?
4 people like this
9 responses
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
22 Mar 11
Really only from you hear and read about listening with your mind. Normally is listening from your ear and reading from your eyes but about mind may there is special power you have. Because before I heard about "reading of minding" but listening using mind that is unique and first time. Mind can interpret after listening of the ear passing to the mind and then interpret but reversing the sequence I know about that... see you around
22 Mar 11
That's a good point, I hadn't thought about it like that.
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
23 Mar 11
thank you and welcome.. see you around
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
22 Mar 11
It's ok if people listen with their ears only. Personally, I like listening with my ears and eyes, since so much is said without sounds. What's more important is that they engage the mind before responding. Wouldn't it be nice if one knew if a mind was involved in a communication before engaging their ears to listen?
22 Mar 11
that's true, sometimes it is what you do not say.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
20 Jul 11
I sort of do this : I will sometimes listen and repeat what is being said in my head, this way I remember it and can process it faster, or if I need to think about it later, then I process it later as well. It helps me, and I do this when it's something I need to do / make myself do. Other times I just listen with my ears and sometimes it goes in one ear and out the other and sometimes it doesn't.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
22 Mar 11
I think both of them really do go hand in hand. You need to open your ears as well as your mind to get the most out of your life. Both go hand in hand. However there is a difference between "hearing something" and "listening to something." You need all senses focused upon the information is given and also really thinking about everything that you have to think about. The mind is a powerful tool for listening, but the ears do get the information to the brain. Therefore, you really listen with your ears, and then it goes to your brain, to process the information rather earlier. It is quite an interesting thing to say the least. Yet, if we fail to open our minds, then we are not listening. We might as well just cover our ears, because without engaging our brains, there is truly little interest.
22 Mar 11
That's tru, but I think the mind. not the brain interprets what we hear. But you are right. WE definitely need to engage or there is no point.
@DanaS2011 (351)
• United States
31 Mar 11
Thats an excellent way to put it. I always tell people there a difference between listening and hearing. Like you said when you listen with your ears thats just hearing someone and when you focus with your mind is listen and comprehending whats going on. Being able to response with an explained answer and not just un hun or right.
@Joeyfish (239)
• United States
22 Mar 11
This is the first time I ever truly thought about listening in that way.. Personally I think I listen with my mind. When I hear things, I automatically know what they are. Such as words, cars, wind, etc.. And if I don't know what they are, I hear them with just my ears. For example a different language, or a mysterious sound. Just like when reading. You are familiar with the words so you just glance at them. You don't look at every letter. So I guess it all depends on if it is familiar to you or not.
22 Mar 11
That's a good point. I hadn't thought about it like that before really You don't look at every letter.
@KrauseHome (36449)
• United States
23 Mar 11
Personally for me, it often depends on the subject at hand. In many situations it is often Best to listen with your Heart and try to reason out the situation instead of your mind and many times regretting what was said or you might have done sometime later. Also learning to listen with your ears and then stopping and thinking about what is Best is better as well. If you are a Praying person stopping and praying about something before making a Big decision especially if it means learning to listen to god is a Big importance as well.
• Philippines
28 Mar 11
I listen with my eyes. I don't know how I do it but I do.
@katie0 (5203)
• Japan
23 Mar 11
I think with the mind, the ears can bring a mixed message I think. Listening while analysing might be more interesting.