#active-listening

#active-listening

From there, he said to remember those good memories and focus on cultivating a warm and curious rapport that is centered around simple, effective, and concise questions that you already know the answers to. The questions can be along the lines of "Tell me more about why you believe this to be true?" or "Where did you get this information from?"

A busy life and demanding job can leave you emotionally depleted. When your own head is spinning, it can be hard to switch gears and listen to a partner who is struggling. It may be tempting to instruct them on how to fix things or lecture them on how they should have avoided the problem in the first place. Yet, both responses seem to make things worse.

We've all felt the pressure to be "on." To be witty, magnetic, full of stories, and somehow the kind of person others orbit around. From job interviews to first dates to Instagram bios, we're taught to polish ourselves into a brand. Be bold. Be memorable. Be interesting. But here's a quiet truth that doesn't get enough airtime: Being interesting is overrated. What really opens doors, deepens bonds, and changes lives isn't being the most fascinating person in the room. It's being the most interested.

"Empathy is the ability to understand others-recognizing what drives people and how they're affected by our decisions. It's not soft; it's strategic."

To help yourself relax, try stretching and taking breaths with an extended exhale.