This is a very known fact that active listening is so important for effective communication.  

As well as giving full attention to the speaker, it is important that the ‘active listener’ is also ‘seen’ to be listening. Active listening involves listening with all senses. When you listen actively, you connect with the speaker wholly and try to understand what is being shared.

However what is the key to being focussed on active listening? 

One of the main keys to this is to have a STABLE mind which will enable you to absorb all the information neutrally. Firm mental health is key to focus/attention and active listening.

Mental Health

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps to determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Any of the above 3 well beings being absent or compromised, will lead to a person having an unstable mind which will then have an effect on the quality of listening .

Emotional well-being 

It is the measure of an individual’s ability to recognize and manage their emotions, and the emotions of other people, both individually and in the group. People with higher emotional well-being find it easier to form and maintain interpersonal relationships and to ‘fit in’ to group situations. They are also able to understand their own psychological state, which includes managing stress effectively and therefore less likely to suffer from depression.

When we are so conscious emotionally on a personal front, we are bound to be empathetic in our approach to person/group(s). We value the person (without judging him/her, according to our own thinking patterns ) and therefore listen actively. 

Psychological well-being 

This is similar to positive mental states, such as happiness or satisfaction. If we examine ourselves closely, on days when we are unhappy/ sad / over anxious, we are unable to concentrate properly. On these days, we will also not be able to listen at the optimum and our performance will be less than average too. We term these as “bad days “, which fundamentally means that we have not been able to perform to our best , all because we could not focus and therefore could not listen actively and act accordingly. 

Social well-being

Social well-being is when basic human needs are met and people are able to coexist peacefully in communities with opportunities for advancement. Valuing others, treating them with respect, creating and maintaining friendships, and trusting and creating connections are all signs of healthy social well-being. People here, have a strong sense of bondage, have non-judgemental views on any situation, and are empathetic. What this leads to is a deep-rooted interest in the other person resulting in a razor focus on active listening.

While stable mental is so important for active listening, resulting in good communication, the vis-a-versa is also true! Effective communication is also important in managing many aspects of mental health. It can make or break our recovery, personal relationships, and interactions with professionals who are responsible for helping us heal.

Happy to receive your comments!