I'm Emily P Freeman and welcome to the next right thing. You're listening to

episode 338. This is a podcast about making decisions but also about

making a

life if you struggle with decision fatigue, chronic hesitation,

or if you just need a few minutes away from the constant stream of information

and the sometimes delightful but distracting hum of entertainment,

well you're in the right place for discerning your next right thing.

I'm an author, a spiritual director, and an occasional workshop leader. I live in North Carolina with my

family and through my work I've helped thousands of spiritually thoughtful people

overcome decision fatigue so that they can discern their next right thing in faith, work, and life.

Today we'll dive into a favorite topic here at the Next Right Thing podcast

and that is the ever important and often overlooked skill of listening.

It's something we all do every day or do we?

I would argue if we are hearing people as opposed to deaf or hard of hearing people then we are hearing people, as opposed to deaf or hard of hearing people, then we are hearing

every day, but hearing and listening are not the same thing.

And listening and being a listener aren't either.

So how can we become better listeners for the sake of our own formation and for the good of those

around us?

We need to be the kind of people who don't just prioritize talking, but who create a generous space for others

to feel heard, especially when we find ourselves in situations that catch us off guard or things

are being said to us that we didn't have time to prepare for and we weren't expecting.

We'll start with five simple phrases to have on hand for those moments where you may be

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