We dread hearing those words from a friend, loved one.. from anyone really. But if you've been on the other side of this conversation, you also have to get the nerve to say it to out loud.
Listen with the intent to help means just that. When someone tells you how you may have hurt them, we tend to listen in order to fight back, defend ourselves and reject what the other may be saying. Perhaps it's in our nature to defend ourselves, but what are we really defending? Since when did we become so proud to assume we never hurt others?
Our actions and words speak volumes. So listen with the intent to help because one day, you may be on the other side of this conversation.
I've been on both sides and it is extremely hard to say those words as it is to hear them. But until you've been on both sides as well, this may be a hard lesson for you to learn and that's ok.
I've hurt others, whether I knew of it or not. Though each time I learned of my poor actions, I listened and apologized because whether or not I thought the other side was irrational or possibly over sensitive.. the fact that I hurt them and made them sad was enough for me to put aside my assumptions and help.
We're all different. We react differently. We hear the same story but gather different meanings from it.
Mend a broken heart by simply listening, understanding and offering help. Be genuine and own up. Broken hearts create huge gaps in our lives, distances grow and we fall apart.
Listen with the intent to help.
