Blog #1

Com 160 001

The sentence that resonated with me from reading the chapters in the book comes from chapter 3. "One of the most important steps we can take, as listeners, is first to recognize the conditions that affect our ability to listen." (page 51) If we can't see that there are things that influence how we listen then we can never improve. It's like the athlete that thinks he doesn't have to improve his game. When you acknowledge that their are factors that influence your listening only then can grow as a listener. When I read this for some reason it took me back to my childhood. I remembered the part in Mulan where she tries to warn the general that the Huns are alive and in the city. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF1YSDWtjDI)  He doesn't listen to her because he was under the impression that "she" was actually a "he" by the name of Ping. He tells her to go home and that she doesn't belong here. If he would have listened to her in the first place then the emperor would have never been in danger in the first place. How does this correlate with the sentence I pulled from the book? This scene demonstrates a condition that affected his ability to listen. His emotion of being hurt fogged his judgement and blocked his ability to even hear what she was saying to him. I know this is a Disney movie from a long time ago but it still applies to everyday interaction. Whether it's our emotion toward something or even something internal that has us distracted there are many conditions that affect our listening. It is wise to not be blind to them, but instead to recognize them and take them out of the scenario to better the skill of listening.