SHUT UP! (4 Dec 2006)

SHUT UP!

“If you want to be understood...Listen”
(Tagline of Babel – closing film of IFFI 2006)

In Jamie Sam's "Earth Medicine", the animals gathered to sort out the problems caused by the latest migrations of their northern neighbours that were affecting their food supply. While some were chattering away, others would intervene to make suggestions and offer solutions. Only the bear had not said a thing. Finally, asked why he was so silent, the bear replied, "I'm listening and learning. I don't need to talk; I already know what I know."

We spend a large portion of our waking hours conversing and listening… more of the former and less of the latter. In fact we are conditioned to believe that effective speaking leads to success. But the reality remains that good listening skills are the pre-requisite to good communication skills and subsequent successes. It is pertinent to note that good listening is victim to not only external disturbances but also to internal “noise”. We must learn to shut up this “noise”.

A good listener will not be one who swears that he is one. Rather a listener will display tolerance, patience and an open mind. At its best listening involves understanding the information, understanding the emotions, checking our understanding, seeing it from the person's viewpoint, without necessarily agreeing. We must learn to “shut up” our prejudices and seek to understand afresh, each time.

In our quest to escape the omni-present “misunderstanding”, we seek to explain, educate and emphasise our position. However, we need to listen and understand, before we can be understood. For others too are like us… we may be equipped to hear, but we may not have learned to listen…

Learn to listen … and listen to learn
“Shut up” and “speak through action”!

Regards
Pravin
4 December 2006, Goa.