Problems, we all have them and we all face them. Do you ever think that your problems don’t matter? That what you’re dealing with does not compare to other people’s worries? That is how I felt for a pretty long time. I went on about my life, hiding how I felt and not talking about what was going on in my life. I always thought that I had to be the strong one. I never thought that my problems matched up to anyone else’s and I just had to deal with that reality. But then, I spoke up and someone just listened to me.
I do not mean to get analytical but think about it: Everyone has their own problems, big or small, easy or hard, but everyone person tends to tackle that obstacle in different ways. We may ask for other people’s advice on how to overcome it, but do you end up using their tactics in the end? I can truly say that I will ask for advice and 98% of the time, I won’t take it.
Sometimes we may ask people for advice to have that person to talk and vent to, but that is what they are there for- to listen. The next time someone comes to you with a problem, don’t say anything. Sit there, be attentive and show that you care. I bet that they will figure out the solution on their own just because they said their problem out loud. It is good to be a voice of reason, but sometimes it is just about being the ear that listens.
Believe it or not, listening is still a form of communication, it is just nonverbal. By just being present in the conversation, the person talking to you can see that you are invested in the conversation and care about their feelings. Talking is fun but listening is effective.