We have two ears and one mouth so we should listen twice as much as we speak
This quote is taken from Epictetus' Enchiridion and it resembles the art of listening. I describe listening as an art because it takes a lot of hard work, self-discipline and skill in order to achieve a state of a consistent good listener.
Epictetus recognised the importance of listening more than you speak and I would agree completely. However, I haven't always been this way. I definitely have had to learn how to listen properly, and this starts with an obsessive desire to better myself, but to also TAKE ACTION and not just wish to get better. Inevitably, I believe that by not listening intently we waste our own time along with everyone else's time. What people don't realise is that they talk too much, they boast too much, or they simply are too self-obsessed to listen to what others have to say. This is one of the reasons why so many people finish life with regret, or are stagnant in life and never feel fully fulfilled. It takes too long for people to understand that listening is far more important than screaming out your opinion at any given opportunity. There are a time and a place.
I feel absolutely incredible in moments where I am in a discussion with another person(s) and we allow each other to talk, even though our viewpoints contrast. It is passion without the defensiveness caused from being interrupted. Also, it has become obvious to me that people really appreciate it when you genuinely listen to them. This means intently listen to everything they have to say, if you are in a discussion with a friend and they tell you about their problems, even if you don't have an answer for their issue, just listening helps them in clearing their head.
It is a really powerful thing, and it is important to remind ourselves every now and then.
Background on Epictetus:
Born into slavery 55AD Epictetus is the famous Stoic of whom is most influenced by God, or the Greek Gods as they were in those times. His slave master was very fond of him and allowed him to study philosophy in his spare time and this is when he was exposed to the ‘Stoa’ teachings by his mentor Musonius Rufus. Epictetus gained freedom from slavery shortly after Emperor Nero’s death and subsequently began teaching philosophy. He taught stoicism for the rest of his life, even when forced to leave Rome as philosophers were banned in Rome, he simply moved to Greece and taught for his remaining days until he died in 135AD. His tao is spread over a few books, each of which is harder reads when compared to Aurelius or Seneca’s writings.
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