Do You Feel Heard or Herded?

Mary Ingram
ILLUMINATION’S MIRROR
2 min readJan 4, 2024

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Created on Canva using Photo by Pon Esakki Sundar on Unsplash

Do you feel your spouse or partner listens to you when you bring up a subject you want to address?

When you go to your boss with a problem or concern, does he discuss options or does he tell you what to do?

When your child comes home from school and tells you someone said something to them at lunch that hurt their feeling, do you pull up a chair and take a minute to listen?

Being heard is really important because it means that people are paying attention to what you have to say. It’s more than just hearing words — it’s about understanding and caring about how you feel. When we feel like others are listening, it makes us feel valued and respected. This helps us connect with others and share our thoughts and ideas.

Being heard is like creating a friendly space where everyone’s thoughts are considered important. It’s not just about talking; it’s about making sure everyone’s point of view is noticed and treated with kindness. This helps us build trust. It makes our relationships stronger and we can build a community where everyone’s voice is heard and matters.

When someone comes to you to address a problem, try to see it as an opportunity to learn. Looking at things from a different perspective is like putting on new glasses — it helps us see the world in a fresh way. When we try to understand something from someone else’s point of view, it’s like stepping into their shoes. We may see something we missed. It’s like solving a puzzle together. Each perspective adds new pieces, and when we put them all together, we get a clearer picture. Learning from different perspectives helps us grow and become more open-minded. It’s like having a bigger toolbox for solving problems and understanding the world around us.

Leave your thoughts in the comments below! I am always here to listen & learn!

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Mary Ingram
ILLUMINATION’S MIRROR

Author, TEDx Speaker, Former Juvenile Diversion Coordinator and Founder Volunteer Nebraska Inc. www.maryingram.com & www.volunteernebraska.org