Burley-Allen Reflective Essay

Reflective Journaling Entry 3

Wk4 #3

In this week’s lesson Burley-Allen (1995) refers to 3 levels of listening and how it plays a part in understating the method of listening.  The first level involves empathetic listening, level 2 is hearing words, but not paying attention to what we are hearing and the last level is listening spurts.  There are many things that I hear throughout my day that really do not understand when the others are speaking.  I am always respectful and listen to what the person is saying before asking for a better understanding. “Burley-Allen (1995) “Mindful listening is the mind and body working together to communicate” (p.187).  From the lesson this week I learned that I should be listening more at level 1.  While becoming a better listener, I am also focusing on my verbal and non-verbal communication when having a conversation with others.  

When listening to others you should be respectful and mindful of the conversation.  Good listening and communication skills makes great and lasting t relationships.  According to Burley-Allen (1995), “True listening promotes cooperation” (p.12).  Listening gives a person sense that you care.  Petersen (2007) states that “Real listening gets us inside each other and there seems to be something in such human connection that touches and changes us” (p.7).  Listening requires us to utilize our senses of hearing, seeing, and feeling while communicating with others.

Burley-Allen (1995) helps us to understand that “The overall focus is to listen from the heart, which opens the doorway to understanding, caring, and empathy” (p.14).  The words that we speak reveals our heart.  When we speak, we expose and unveil the condition and attitudes of our heart.  There is a great deal of people that do not realize this, and if they did, they would be careful of how and what they say.   There is a saying, “Action speak louder than word.”  I do not disagree with the saying but in the bible it states that words speak loud enough by themselves.  It is the outpouring of the heart that the mouth speaks.  Luke 6:45 states, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.” We should listen to the things that comes out our mouth. The words when we pray and the words when we speak.  Just listening to yourself sometimes help you to realize if you are making the conversation about you. When you listen to the words within your heart you will be amazed to hear what comes out your mouth.