1. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

2.  This habit is to listen first, talk second; see things from another person’s point of view before sharing your own.

3. When I ask you to listen to me And you start giving me advice, You have not done what I have asked. When I ask you to listen to me And you begin to tell me why I shouldn’t feel that way, You are trampling on my feelings. When I ask you to listen to me And you feel you have to do something To solve my problem, You have failed me, Strange as that may seem. Listen! All I ask is that you listen. Don’t talk or do – just hear me.

4. 1. SPACING OUT: ignoring the person talking to you while you’re caught up in your own thoughts 2. PRETEND LISTENING: listening in a way that makes the other person feel they are not important (“uh-huh…,” “oh yeah, for sure…”)

5. 3. SELECTIVE LISTENING: focusing in on only part of the conversation that interests you, rather than hearing out the other person’s thoughts 4. WORD LISTENING: focusing on the words only, not the body language or the meaning behind the words

6.  When we see everything from our point of view.  One-upping another.

7. Listen with your eyes, heart and ears

8. The other day I saw my girl Walking with some other man They were walking and giggling and having a time And I saw she was holding his hand! I stood back and spied, my eyes filled with tears As I watched this foul display Some overly cheerful bicep with legs Was taking my baby away!

9. As I spied over dumpsters with feelings of hate I saw them in a close embrace! Now I’m broken-hearted Cause before they parted I saw her kiss his face. That ended my garbage-can espionage I thought I had seen quite enough I decided to confront that devilish girl Who I had once called my true love.

10. So I typed up an e-mail to that wicked female And gave her a piece of my mind. But I won’t say what I said, In case there’s kids present But I will say my words were unkind. I said it was the end, And right when I clicked send I heard my telephone ring. I picked up the receiver and couldn’t believe her It was my little ex…thing.

11. She said, “Sorry babe that I haven’t seen you all day But my older brother is in town! Did I ever mention that he is a boxer An one of the biggest around?! “He’d like to meet you, But he’s quite protective So behave whatever you do, I’ll check my e-mail and then we’ll come by And…oh look! Here’s an e-mail from you!”