What does it mean to listen?

It seems odd to begin a blog with listen in the title. For the most part, there will be no sound coming from this site. So, without sound - what is there to listen to? I am smiling as I type this - because you know where I am going with this. Who said we need sound to listen?

Webster defined listen: "1. To make a conscious effort to hear; attend closely, so as to hear. 2. To pay close attention; take advice." Nowhere in these definitions does it say the word "sound" or "noise" or even "use your ears" or ... you get the point.

Let's look at that definition for a minute. Some of it's points stand out to me. First, the definition says "to make a conscious effort" and "to attend closely". It strikes me that the definition does not fool us by pretending listening comes as a second nature. Listening doesn't automatically happen - like a knee jerk reaction to noise. Rather, we have to intend on listening. We have to focus, to zero all our senses into hearing. Have you ever watched one of those sports movies when the player is able to stand on the mound and tune out the crowd? It's like that - we have to tune out all of our distractions and pay close attention to what we are attempting to hear.

The last part of the second definition surprised me. "To take advice?" WHAT? But, I am listening to help someone else out, right? WRONG. That's what we think, though. "I'm a good friend because I listened to her in a time of need." Or, "OK - I listened to your argument - now you listen to mine!". Listening is not about winning or losing, not about earning the accolades of others. The goal of listening is to have a deeper understanding. When we can move away from fighting and truly listen to an other's side, we will not only have a more holistic view on the issue at hand, but can also more effectively come to a solution. When we turn down the noise and listen to nature, the sounds of an old house, the deep breaths of a baby sleeping or our own heart beat - we are feeding our spirit.

As we start a new month today, what is it that you need to pay close attention too? What do you need to zero in on in order to more completely understand? What advice do you need to stop fighting and start implementing? Most importantly - what are you spending your energy listening too?