I remember the first time I heard the term, “active listening.”  It was not something I had ever thought about very much.  I thought I knew how to listen.  But there is an important component in this “listening” that must be considered.  “Active listening” requires one to be in tune with the other person’s words, without thinking of how to respond.  It involves a conscious effort to stay focused ONLY on what the other person is saying.

The recent stream of hate rhetoric seems to have taken over social media and news outlets that report on the conditions that are present to their readers.  It is an ugly way of communication and I can’t say that I witness a lot of openness to compromise.  It seems that the more disagreement finds a fertile place to grow, the more people dig their heels in.

I am trying to stay positive in the midst of this, but find myself disturbed when people do not see things the way I do.  I am attempting to create a peaceful space in my own consciousness, where a cooperative spirit can grow.  For if we each continue to feel as divided as we do in this present moment, that will be impossible. Two diametrically opposing ideas cannot fullyexist in the same mind.  There needs to be a willingness to adjust our attitudes and move toward middle ground.

“Active listening” is essential to the communication we must have in order to see the other person’s point of view.  Only then, can we open our minds fully to the possibility of compromise.  When this happens, we engage in the essential process that can only happen in minds open enough to grow peace.

Hatred, in its many forms, must not be tolerated if we aspire to be a place where there is freedom to have different opinions and discuss issues in an open and non-confrontational manner.  If peace is what we are after, active listening is necessary. Let us strive to be a country where this can happen.  We can be a place that people will be free to express their opinions openly.  That is the America I want to see and I know that it can be accomplished.  Our future depends on it.