Firstly, we will focus on the portion about the willingness to listen.
As suggested by psychologists, about 60% of the daily information scanned is done through listening. We listen through various different sound patterns, differences in tones, pitch, volume, etc. Sound is very important as it places us in space and time. Hearing is one of the five senses that humans have, it clearly has its role to assist in the process of receiving external information.
Willingness to listen means to allow you to see different perspectives, various ways, opportunities, options or methods. Willingness to listen is the first step to be receptive as you are taking in external information, be it useful or not it is still important to be open to new and fresh perspectives.
Fishing for ways to improve changes the way others see and experience you. These are linked to better outcomes, such as enhanced work satisfaction, higher performance reviews and being better able to adapt to different roles.
Without the willingness to listen, we will be stuck in our bubble, where we continue to remain safe. In our bubble, we cannot see or hear the external world, one that is already changing, adapting and integrating new systems. This further prevents one to step out of their comfort zone to make changes, ultimately hindering the process for growth, development & improvement.
Having the same comfort level will not sustain or keep us satisfied for long, as it eventually bores or becomes uninteresting. Waiting for the time to past while fully enjoying being comfortable with comfortable, or trying to stretch the time of remaining satisfied in our bubble by lying to ourselves will ultimately cause us despair, sorrow, pain & doubt.
To avoid this, we should choose to constantly be open to getting out of our own comfort zone, so we can enlarge the chances of advancing our comfort level. Hence, the willingness to listen is the first step to reaping the benefits of being receptive.
Secondly, we pay attention to the part on accepting new ideas and suggestions.
As mentioned, 60% of the external information is received through listening; however psychologists suggest that we only retain 20% of what we hear. That reduction of numbers is done through the process of filtering. Where we filter out information according to what is useful and not.
The filtering process sometimes backfires at us. This occurs especially for useful information, when it is poorly, harshly delivered or criticism that hurts us.
We tend to be biased to such information, deeming that there is something wrong with the information because if it is we do not need to get hurt, worry in making any changes, relax and move on with life. But, this causes us to remain in our bubble, as mentioned providing much negative consequences in one’s life.
We need to embrace and start learning to reduce these biases and accept these useful but scary ideas or suggestions that are fresh and new.
To allow for growth, development and improvement and other accompanied benefits of being receptive to seep in our hearts, we have to develop the willingness to listen and the acceptance to new ideas and suggestions. Hence, 3 tips will be shared for the opportunity to better you and become the best version you can be.
3 tips to better your Listening & Acceptance
Be curious about everything
Get into that student mode of learning, absorb everything and ask about anything. Every piece of information processed is worth taking into consideration and worth keeping even though it may not seem useful at this point of time.
Pay attention to your need for growth instead of your pride
This mindset will grant you the motivation to constantly be on the search and keep a lookout on your external surroundings, enhancing the willingness to listen. Adjusting to the mindset also reduces your pain especially when you receive information that is harshly or poorly delivered. This tip allows you to better forgive and accept your weaknesses, granting you the power to be more accepting of constructive criticism.
Be silent
Take some time to not only listen to the external but also to your own internal. Look to your inner self, be open, give yourself the chance to express, listen and accept. It is easier to listen to new ideas and accept our weaknesses from ourselves as compared to when it’s from others.
From not knowing, to knowing, from avoidance to embracing… That is what being receptive brings!
"Having the simplest reception, create Legends"
