Listening Is Different From Hearing: A Simple Practice for a Busy Mind

We hear all day. But how often do we actually listen?

Hearing happens. Listening requires attention. Think about the last time you walked through a familiar place. You probably heard traffic, conversations, footsteps, birds and machines, but probably didn't consciously listen to most of them.

That's normal. Our brains filter an enormous amount of information every moment.

Try listening for one minute

Sit comfortably. Close your eyes if that feels comfortable. First, listen for the furthest sound you can hear. Don't identify it. Just notice it. Now bring your attention closer. What can you hear nearby? Finally, listen to the space between those sounds. Stay there for a minute. That's it.

Why do this?

Not because one minute of listening will magically change your day. Simply because attention is something we can practise. Before we think about sound as something that can create an experience, we can simply learn to listen to it.

The next time you hear a sound...

Don't immediately label it. Stay with it for a few seconds longer. What else can you hear?