Philippians 2.1-5
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”
Do you want to communicate and connect with others? If so, then master the discipline of listening and the focus it requires. Without focus, you get distracted, your mind drifts, and you don’t hear. Staying focused on the person locks you in and connects you to what they are saying and how they are feeling.
The attitude you bring to a conversation shapes the quality of the conversation. If you have a negative or cynical mindset, it is not likely you will care, listen, or communicate. You certainly won’t connect. If you are self-centered or arrogant, you won’t do the work to listen and understand.
Do you prefer to listen to opinions that make you feel good or ideas that make you think hard?
If you want to communicate and connect, you must first listen. If you want to listen, you must operate from a mindset of empathy, curiosity, and humility. This is why Philippians instructs us to have a mindset of humility where we “count others more significant than ourselves.” This is the mind of Christ, and it is essential for effective listening.
A mindset of humility and curiosity means that when you are having a conversation with someone, make sure you are listening to their voice, not yours. In order to listen, you must turn off the noise inside yourself and connect with what the other person is saying and discover what they are thinking and feeling.
It doesn’t mean your ideas and opinions don’t matter. It doesn’t mean you aren’t important. It simply means putting your opinion on hold for a season so that you can focus on the other person and really listen.
Again: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”
The Lord is calling.
