When you read those two words do you see a difference or do you see the same word?

Often people use words interchangeably but words often are different for a reason. When you hear someone what comes to mind? When you listen to someone what comes to mind? Do they both mean the same or is there a difference?

Often people will say ‘you know what I mean’ in response to something that they say being taken differently than they anticipated. Often this is because they are using words that are often interchanged but have different meanings all together.

When you LISTEN to someone you are taking in what they are saying to you and actively hearing the words being said and composing a response back based on what is said rather than what is presumed.

When you HEAR someone you are not taking in all the details because you are gearing up your response to what you are hearing and not what they are saying.

There is a subtle difference between the two but that difference is truly vast. Many people are not active listeners but they are active responders.

Next time someone talks to you take the time to determine are you listening to them or are you hearing them. There is a difference.

–Cal