Selective Hearing

My mother used to say that my brother and I would have selective hearing.  She would be on the phone talking to someone and something she said would spark a response from us as though we were a part of that real conversation.  Maybe it was the word toy or something, I don’t remember.

The point is that we sometimes are queued to listen for certain things being said and read into things that just weren’t said.  This can happen more quickly when you fight with someone.  You begin to hunt down “proof” for your arguments. This can be helpful in helping the other person come to some truth if they consistently deny it.

However, this tendency will cause you to stop caring for the other person and stop to truly listen to what they are trying to communicate.  Remember, communication isn’t easy.  Don’t just listen to what you want to hear.