The Profound Practice of Listening: Exploring the Spiritual Discipline
By Becky Joyce
I am what you might call a professional listener. In my role as therapist and coach, I spend anywhere from 16-24 hours a week listening to people reflect on their hurts and hopes, expressing their needs, and venting their pain. My clients are so eager to be listened to, attended to, cared for, and heard.
I savor the moments when people open up, revealing their innermost selves, when God shows up in profound ways, allowing me to hear the message, need, or desire behind the words. It is clear that the impact of listening is essential to the human need for safety, trust, and attunement.
Yet, in my downtime, away from my professional capacity, I struggle to make time to slow down, embrace silence, and listen, for myself. I fill my downtime with excessive noise, distractions, and avoidance! I know I’m not alone. In today's fast-paced, noisy world, where we are constantly reachable and interruptible, finding moments of stillness and silence—to just listen— are few and far between. Yet, the practice of silence and listening is a profound spiritual discipline that has been recognized and honored in contemplative traditions throughout history.
Listening as a spiritual discipline goes well beyond the absence of noise or simply staying quiet. It is a deliberate practice that involves intentionally creating space and time to be fully present, attentive, and receptive. It is about cultivating a state of inner stillness and deep listening, both externally and internally, with an open heart and mind, to what God might be trying to reveal to us.
Here are a few of the benefits of practicing silence and listening as a spiritual discipline:
Cultivating “bodyfulness” (let me explain): Silence and listening bring us into the present moment, helping us to be attentive to our thoughts, emotions, sensations, and experiences. This allows for mindfulness (awareness) and interoception, the ability to pay attention to what our bodies are telling us. Are we listening to the voice of God as experienced in our bodies, in a way that gives us the freedom to say, “My body is weary. It is in need of rest,” or “My heart is craving adventure—how might I make space for joy today?” Or “I need connection. I am lonely and in need of community.” It is in slowing down, tuning in, and listening that we are able to be aware of our deepest needs.
Deepening awareness: Silence and listening create space for reflection and inquiry. It allows us to listen to the voice of God, and to observe our thoughts, emotions, and patterns of behavior without judgment or distraction. This soul awareness can lead to insights, clarity, and growth, as well as help us identify lies we may believe about God, ourselves, or others.
Inviting guidance: In silence, we can open ourselves to receive guidance and wisdom from God. It is a time when we can surrender our need for control or analysis, and simply be receptive to truth. The guidance of the Holy Spirit is available to help us navigate the challenges we are facing and make wise decisions.
Nurturing peace: Silence and listening provide an opportunity to experience inner peace and stillness, which can be restorative for our body, mind, and spirit. It allows us to rest from the noise and distractions of the world and recharge ourselves on a deeper level. In silence, we can filter what is most important and most essential, and find true peace in God.
So, how can we incorporate the spiritual discipline of silence and listening into our daily lives? Here are some practical suggestions:
Create intentional moments of silence: Set aside specific times during your day or week for intentional silence. It can be a few minutes of silence in the morning or before bedtime, or a longer period of silence in a park, a place of worship, or in nature. Find a quiet space where you can be free from distractions and simply be present. Ask God to meet you in this space and time.
Practice active listening: When you are in conversations with others, practice active listening by being fully present, attentive, and non-judgmental. Avoid interrupting or formulating responses in your mind while the other person is speaking. Instead, truly listen to their words, tone, and body language, and respond from a place of empathy and care. All of your relationships will benefit!
