Words are important. In many traditions, there is a belief that words have a power to create reality and must be used with discretion and responsibility. Yet people communicate much more than just the content of what they say. People’s tone of voice, their use of metaphor, their body language also tell us a lot about their experience, their identity, and their worldview. Therefore, good listening includes being: • open, not predetermining the appropriate content of communications; • empathetic, truly inviting in and making space for the feelings and wisdom of the speaker; and • holistic,
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