Why Don’t People Listen?
When I was a teenager and young adult ‘not listening’ wasn’t such a big deal as it is now. Life was much simpler. I’m not saying that bad things weren’t happening around the globe, but I, for one, lived in blissful ignorance – in my little cotton wool bubble. The news broadcasts weren’t half as horrific as they are now and they always ended on a happy note – a positive story. Not so nowadays – in fact, if I have to set my alarm in the morning, I never set it on the hour because then the first thing I hear about is death and disaster – not a great way to start the day.
It’s not such an easy ride for the children and young adults of today. Some do appear to be in the same state of ignorance as I easily achieved, but there are also those that are talking about climate change, the food supply and wondering whether the adults in charge will actually leave them a planet to live on. What a way to spend a childhood!
With the advent of the internet we are now in an era of information overload – and maybe that is one of the reasons why a lot of people don’t listen – they are trying to desperately keep hold of their sanity in the extremely negative spin that is dished out on a daily basis – as though every human being who isn’t the same religion, colour or nationality as us, is an enemy to be vanquished. What happened to love thy neighbour?
I remember being told a story many years ago about a man who was in his 80’s and truly believed that the world was flat. Nothing anybody could say persuaded him differently. It transpired that when he was 7 years old, his teacher told him that the world was flat – possibly in a tongue in cheek way – but that 7 year old took that to be the gospel truth and still believed it 80 years later.
Isn’t that part of what is happening today? People who still believe that doctors know everything and therefore there is no need to question, or take responsibility for our own health? Or that governments and corporations truly have our best interests at heart? That we can relax and lead our lives, only looking out for our immediate friends and family, secure in the knowledge that we are being looked after by Big Brother?
I wonder how the increasing number of documentaries and informational videos go completely over a multitude of heads – so that they truly believe that those who question the medical industry, the food industry, religious institutions, climate change, fracking, chemtrails, deforestation and the like, are just conspiracy theorists trying to cause trouble. Why aren’t they listening? Or maybe they are, but the horror of it all is too overwhelming and so they opt for a life of looking the other way?
My Conclusion
What I am increasingly aware of is that while I am asking that question of others, there are also people wondering why I won’t listen too. Why don’t I hear their stories, or believe what they believe.
What it ultimately comes down to is the different lives and experiences people have had. Maybe a doctor saved their, or a loved one’s, life many years ago and an absolute trust in doctors was cemented in that time. Or a politician might have helped their grandmother keep her house when she was under threat of being evicted – and thereafter, no politician could do any wrong. Who can tell, but our personal experiences definitely push us in different directions and, ultimately, to different belief systems.
Often, it’s easier to get strangers to listen than our own friends and family. There is less emotional investment, so maybe we are less intense when relaying our message, or asking someone to believe that we do actually know what we are talking about. Plus with friends and family there is history and we will possibly always be seen as that sulky child or rebellious teenager. I remember recommending some motivational books to a friend many years ago, when they were going through a very negative time. My advice went completely over their head. However, about 10 years later they told me that a virtual stranger had recommended these books and I really should read them – the exact same books as I had told them about all those years previously.
Maybe the ones we love need to get information from people other than us. People who won’t be suspected of having a hidden agenda! I once did a reading for a college student and it kept coming up that they needed to stop messing around and concentrate on their studies, to which they said ‘My parents are always telling me to study, they even offered me money if I passed my exams, but I suppose if you’re telling me to do that, then I’d better listen’. Sometimes a stranger with nothing to gain is the only way a message can not only be received, but also listened to.
Possibly the only way to get people to truly understand our unique journey and the knowledge that we have picked up along the way, would be to lock them in a room and make them read every article and watch every video that we have watched which brought us to our current level of understanding. In order to be fair, we would also have to reciprocate and go through the same procedure. Who has the time or the inclination? – not me, for sure!
Therefore, I think that we need to back off, let people come to their own understanding in their own time and not assume that we know what’s best for them. Each one of us has a unique path to tread and the journey is of as much importance as the destination. We all have to make our own decisions, based on the knowledge we have in the moment. We have the ability to be constantly changing – all we have to do is listen and learn!
What are your thoughts on why people don’t listen? Comments are welcome.
Sue is the Founder of Soulfully Connecting. She has spent over 40 years on her spiritual journey which, amongst other things, included training as a medium, hands on healing and travelling with a shaman. She trained for 3 years as a graphologist and for 23 years has been a reader specialising in graphology and tarot – 14 of those years were spent participating in festivals both at home and abroad.
The idea behind Soulfully Connecting is to demonstrate that there are other ways of living which can heal the earth, the animal kingdom and ourselves. She is passionate about people having freedom of choice, which is only possible when they know about all the options.
Sue is a member of the 7 Graces of Marketing community, the core purpose of which is to promote ethical marketing.
Twitter – @soulecting and @soulfullysue
