Hi, ,

I’ve been reflecting more on the idea of listening, especially the way it shapes how we engage in conversations and relationships. And something hit me: beneath my listening filter—the one that assumes others aren’t being sincere or are just sparing my feelings—is something deeper. It’s fear.

I invite you to ask yourself: What is it that your listening is protecting you from? Is it the fear of being hurt or disappointed? Is it the fear of rejection or not being good enough? For me, I’ve realized it’s about protecting myself from vulnerability. If I don’t fully believe what someone is saying, then I won’t be let down if they don’t really mean it. But here's the catch—this defense mechanism is not only keeping me safe, it's also keeping me disconnected.

This is tough for me to consider because I pride myself on being Mr. Vulnerability. But, what if, instead of protecting myself from hurt, I allowed myself to actually be vulnerable? What if I chose to listen from a place of openness, rather than self-protection? It's not easy to confront that fear, but I suspect it’s a key step toward building deeper, more authentic relationships.

If this resonates with you, stay tuned for my next message where we’ll explore what happens when we start to shift our listening and let go of the need to protect ourselves.

Kevin