![]() Express yourself through facial expressions and small phrases. Instead of cutting their words to supply your own, do little things like nodding, gently patting on their shoulder, maintaining adequate eye contact, saying “Hmm” and “Okay”. If you make someone feel understood and listened to, it is more than enough. You are not required to offer solutions to their problems unless they ask you to. Feel grateful that your friend trusts you with their vulnerabilities. As an active listener, don’t worry about saying the right things or filling in silences. Let them know that there will be no judgments and that you’re here to listen to anything that they have to say. Make sure that where you are is a place without disturbances and that your friend feels comfortable. Create a comfortable environment for them to let their thoughts and feelings out Even in between conversations, if something is triggering or traumatic for you, don’t hesitate to express your discomfort. If you are in a tough situation yourself and listening to them could worsen your state, tell them that right now it’s hard for you to attend to anyone and you’ll reach out to them when you’ll be ready. ![]() If you have a work or personal commitment, clearly communicate with them. Be careful when sharing personal experiencesīefore letting your friend start speaking about their feelings, be clear if you have the time or energy to listen to them.Create a comfortable environment for them to let their thoughts and feelings out.9 Tips to Improve Active Listening Skills And, the most helpful thing that we can do for someone in pain is to actively listen to them, with love and empathy. In hard times like these, it becomes essential for us to look out for one another. This year brings the hope of new beginnings but the wounds are still fresh. We sought ways to feel better, whole and loved, to find some source of positive light. The feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, fear, stagnation, and constant bad news made it challenging for us to be happy and hopeful, day after day. Getting through 2020 was one of the hardest things that we did as a society. Here are 9 tips to become a great active listener to others and yourself.Īctive listening skills are more important than ever. You may feel like you’re hurting them by saying no, but in the end, it’ll be better for them…and for you.9 Easy Tips to Improve Your Active Listening Skills That means setting boundaries and lovingly saying no when teens cross them. They follow you, not the other way around. As a youth leader, it’s important to remember that you are not their buddy or BFF, you are their leader. Teens need boundaries, they need rules and they need to hear you say no. On one hand, their parents are usually overprotective and hovering, but on the other hand they are afraid to set clear boundaries, deny their kids’ requests and simply say no. One of the things he states is that this generation is spoiled. I’ve been reading a book called Generation iY and the author paints a startling picture of the current generation of teens (I’ll be reviewing the book later this week). Teens need to know that they have the room for mistakes, that messing up every now and then is OK. The words they need to hear are: I forgive you (possibly followed by: And I still love you!). ![]() How you react to this can have a huge impact on them. At one point or another, they will make a mistake, cost you money or end up hurting you. Say the words and watch them make a difference. Hey man, I love you, you’re like a little brother to me, you know that? I love you girl, I’m so blessed to know you and to have you in my life. But don’t forget to say the words as well. It may sound too cheesy to say, but do you know how many teens are longing to hear someone say this to them? Show them you love them in spending time with them, investing in a relationship with them. Let’s tell teens that and affirm them in God’s love for them again and again. He loves you when you’re depressed and cutting yourself, he loves you when you’re having sex with your boyfriend or girlfriend, he loves you when you’re angry all the time, he loves you whether you’re gay or straight or confused… There is absolutely nothing you could ever do that would make God stop loving you. He loves you even if you’re the biggest sinner that ever walked the face of the earth. No matter what you have done, no matter what you will do, God will always love you. This is the most important truth of them all and one that we should keep repeating every single time we talk to teens. 5 Bible messages for youth that make a huge impact: 1. What short Bible messages for youth make the biggest impact on their lives? The words we use can make a difference. Words can wound, maybe even kill, but they can also affirm and build up. Words are of more importance than we often realize.
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