RE: How Do We Listen To What Others Are Saying Without Needing.......
That's a great question. How? I don't know for sure as I can only speak for myself. I would say that I have managed to listen what a person really has to say and not what I want to hear from him, only with my 4-year-young son so far in my life. It might sound dissapointing coming from a man of my age (36) but I prefer to be honest and be liked or disliked for who I really am, than to be liked or "impress" for something I am not (a fake "me.")
Ideally, I should have been able to listen more peoples' "reality," starting with my own mother and father, but I realize that especially with them I always listened to what I NEEDED (not even wanted) to hear, especially as an insecure youngster who constantly felt unloved and unappreciated.
However, now that my parents get older and older, I feel like I listen to what they really say (usually ask) to me and I can honestly say that I love them now more than ever before, as I don't need to need them anymore....I just choose to need them in my life :)
PS. Gratitude always comes last...when you are wise enough to realise that only unconditional love sets you free (from your agonies, insecurities and fear)
Those are some valuable inputs. I would say we mature with time and it's on us how to use our learnings to become a good human being
I agree that most of us become better humans as we age and getting more mature :)
Sounds like you are listening. As I think true listening comes when we love ourself unconditionally. When we love ourself unconditionally it's usually easier to take responsibility for ourself, allowing us to be open to truly listening. Did you mean to say gratitude always comes first, as it truly does set us free from all attachment!
That's a long conversation we can have in person when you are in Greece @aumsong :)