3.16.25: Hearing vs. Listening

I’ve long debated the differences between hearing and listening, and here’s my take. Hearing is passive—it just happens. You hear traffic outside, music playing, or someone talking in the background without really processing it. Listening, though, is intentional. It’s about focus, understanding, and absorbing what’s being said beyond just the words. It’s making eye contact, reading tone, catching the things left unsaid. I think people underestimate how rare true listening is. We’re so quick to respond or drift off. But when someone really listens? You feel it. And honestly, that kind of attention is a game-changer in any relationship.