Feeling Seen vs. Feeling Heard
Discovering deeper connections in our words
Although the phrases “feeling seen” and “feeling heard” are very similar in sound and meaning, they contain a key difference. This is worth exploring, as it can lead us to greater insight about how we relate to others. When we understand that, we can create experiences that allow us to connect more meaningfully.
Making sense of our words and each other
As we have experiences of deep connection, we might not be aware of the subtle differences in the words we use to describe them. Examining things closer, we discover that feeling seen and feeling heard — like the physical senses of seeing and hearing themselves — highlight similar but different aspects of a meaningful experience.
That is, to say that we feel seen or heard by someone is a metaphor that draws upon our own deep, embodied understanding of what it means to see or hear.
Seeing and hearing are two of our 8 physical senses of the body. Our eyes and ears are close together in the head, but positioned at 90º angles from each other. They take in complementary information, reinforcing the perceived external stimuli in tandem.
As such, sight and sound are inextricably linked. And because we think with our whole…
