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Transcript

Listen and Learn · The Daily Writer

• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Daily Rider, where we share a lesson each day to help you cultivate the habits for creative success.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: Have you ever sat at a coffee shop and listened to the conversations happening around you?
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: It's really pretty fascinating.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: 99% of the time, people are only talking about themselves.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: Almost everyone in every social situation makes the conversation all about them.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_00: It's rare to hear somebody who's listening empathetically with interest to the other person who is speaking.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: It's so rare to listen empathetically because it's so hard to do.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: It's hard to put our own ego and our agenda aside and listen with our full attention to what somebody else is saying.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_00: To not only listen to the words, but also to listen to the emotion and the intention behind it.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_00: In fact, communication experts have told us for decades that there's far more communication happening in the facial gestures and body language of people than there is in their actual words.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: To go even a step further, our words are sometimes even designed to hide what we're really thinking and feeling.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: That's why critical listening is so important.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: It's not only a key part of relating with people, it's also a way for us to learn about human nature.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: When we listen, when we really listen, it gives us ideas for our writing, whether we're writing fiction or nonfiction, and it also helps us to better understand people and ourselves.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: And honestly, what could possibly be more important for us as writers than understanding people?
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: So the next time you're sitting in a coffee shop or somewhere else where there's conversations happening all around you, listen and learn.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: Take a little bit of time to observe the people who are not only talking about themselves, but also try to listen for those who are truly paying attention to other people.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: It's a super interesting social experiment, but it can also help you become a better listener yourself, which is a skill that pays huge dividends no matter what type of writing you do.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks so much for listening to today's episode.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: For more, you can visit us at dailywriterlife.com.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks, and I'll see you tomorrow.