Blog Post #1- Barriers of Listening

     Talking and listening go hand-in-hand. Without talking there would be nothing to listen to; but without listening, there would be no talking. Conversations are important. Communication is important. Most of the time, conversations, though, are always interrupted and communication is always cut off. Distractions stop people from talking and listening. These distractions fall into three different categories: external, internal, and physiological. These barriers are important to notice, so that people can stay present in conversation and communication. 

     Looking deeper, external distraction can be a sound, like clicking of pens. Next, internal distraction can be thoughts, or conversation you have with yourself; like what homework you need to get done. Lastly, physiological distraction is the actual action of distraction your body has, like if you were nervous and your hands were shaky. External, internal, and physiological distractions sum up all distraction in conversation. I think it is important to recognize what distractions there might be around you, so that you can focus on the conversation instead of whatever might hold you back. Be present with people. In class someone said, “If you care you listen." It's true. “Caring and listening go hand-in-hand.” If people truly cared about one another, distractions would be ignored, internal conversation would be at minimum, and people would be focused to listen and communicate. It takes being patient and getting outside your own head. This is a hard thing to do, but it is an extra step in relationships that is important. 

     I know how frustrating it can be to have someone not pay attention to what you are trying to tell someone. I am the youngest sibling, of 3 kids, so growing up the three of us had get used to interruption. Without a doubt, someone was always taking care of their own needs and/or schedule, or someone was already in the middle of another conversation, someone was doing something. We were either interrupted, ignored, or told "wait till later." Distractions are part of everyone's daily life, though, not just as a child. As a college student now, you have to balance a healthy lifestyle. There's a constant flow of conversation with yourself, and conversation with family and friends. It's a lot to take in on a daily basis, but if you take a minute to slow down and focus on what people are saying, life would be more enriched with good relationships. Relationships wouldn't be cut off.