While talking to someone, you might always be busy thinking about what you will say next. Instead, you must focus on listening to what they are saying. Remember, listening is a skill that demands time and practice to become good at. And you should not be embarrassed or ashamed if you are a poor listener.
Moreover, if you are struggling with addiction, listening can significantly help you in your addiction recovery.
Below, we have talked about the value of listening in addiction recovery.
- Better relationships- Most relationships fall apart due to ineffective communication between people. If your loved one feels you do not listen to them, it will result in resentment. Eventually, these feelings will build up over time and lead to a sudden burst of emotions. Therefore, you need to make them believe that you are listening to whatever they are saying rather than just passively standing. Also, let them speak and do not focus only on defending yourself. Doing this will lead to solid relationships, which are essential in addiction recovery.
- Picking up the needed information- A lot of information is available that can help you in addiction recovery and build a better life. However, you must listen carefully in a non-judgemental way to absorb this knowledge. If you dismiss information because it does not fit your perspective or ignore what the speaker is saying simply because you dislike them, you might miss out on valuable information that could drastically improve your life. Remember, you rarely learn anything valuable by talking- it is only by listening that you can gain real knowledge.
- Providing real value to others- Your loved one may come to you with a problem. The best thing you can do to help them is to listen. They might not expect you to come up with a solution, but sharing the problem can offer them some peace of mind. Therefore, do not constantly interrupt them with solutions; otherwise, they will feel you are not listening to them. You should speak only when you want clarification about the problem or once the person has finished talking.
- Discovering new opportunities- When you listen to others, you discover exciting new ideas and opportunities. There are countless examples of people who became successful after getting inspiration from something they heard in a conversation. Therefore, you should keep your ears open to let knowledge flow in your life.
- Reducing self-absorption- While listening to others, you don’t focus on your problems. It’s almost like being on vacation away from yourself and your issues, which can be good for you. If you always focus on your problems, life might seem a lot tougher to you.
About Steps Recovery Centers
Being a good listener is extremely important for better and faster addiction recovery. At Steps Recovery Centers, we are a team of experienced and licensed staff specializing in addiction treatment programs. We are known for the excellent reputation we hold among our clients. For more information, contact us at 801-800-8142.
