The Zen of Listening Quotes

“Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us worthy evidence of the fact. —George Eliot”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“The lack of self-listening is often the cause of communication breakdown. If we could hear our words and comments through the ears of our listeners, we would be appalled at the overgeneralizations, the inaccuracies, and the insensitive, negative comments we make about ourselves and others. Learning to carefully select our words plays a major role in presenting ourselves in a favorable light, getting along well with others, and effectively getting the job done. When we make self-deprecating remarks about our looks, intelligence, or competence, we reveal an unhealthy mindset, chip away at our self-confidence, and create the wrong impressions, setting the stage for us not to be taken seriously.”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“Many of us would like to see an end to discrimination of all kinds, happier families, and a safer, more harmonious future for our children. But how can we as individuals make a difference? We can begin by learning to listen in a mindful way. Listening is the first step in making people feel valued. Mindful listening allows us to do more than take in peoples words; it helps us better understand the how and why of their views. When understanding occurs, a sense of calm is achieved on both sides, even if no point of agreement is reached. From understanding, respect and trust for one another are possible; we are free to open our minds and widen the scope of potential solutions.”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“Listening to what motivates employees helps them to excel in what they do best, thus creating a happier, more fulfilling work environment. By”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“Another challenge to mindful listening is that the average person speaks at a rate of 125 words per minute, yet we can process up to 500 words per minute. During that lag time, you can think about your to-do list or you can listen mindfully by using that time to summarize what the speaker has said so far or see the possibilities in what the speaker is proposing. You can also note the emphasis in his voice or the degree of concern in his gestures and facial expressions. When you are in the speaker’s movie, you use your resources to be a competent, intelligent listener.”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“Loyalty to a petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul —Mark Twain”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“Here’s an alarming fact: of approximately eight hundred thousand words in the English language, we use about eight hundred on a regular basis. Those eight hundred words have fourteen thousand meanings. By division there are about seventeen meanings per word. In other words, we have a one-in-seventeen chance of being understood as we intended. Perhaps you’ve heard of Chisholm’s Third Law—If you explain something so clearly that no one can misunderstand, someone will.”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“Give advice only when asked and keep it short!”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“If you cannot find the truth where you are, Where do you expect to find it? —Master Dogen”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one on the face of this earth can make you feel inferior without your permission.”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“Many of us would like to see an end to discrimination of all kinds, happier families, and a safer, more harmonious future for our children. But how can we as individuals make a difference? We can begin by learning to listen in a mindful way. Listening is the first step in making people feel valued. Mindful listening allows us to do more than take in peoples words; it helps us better understand the how and why of their views.”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“Memory comprises three basic processes: encoding, storage, and retrieval.”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“Listening intently even for a minute is one of the nicest gifts we can give to another human being.”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction

“A good listener is not only one who processes the spoken word and the meaning behind the words accurately, but one who makes the speaker feel valued by encouraging him to expand on his ideas and feelings. A good listener touches the lives of those to whom he listens.”
― Rebecca Z. Shafir, The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction