World We Imagine Part 1

World We Imagine 

I believe that my first step in making the world a better place would be to encourage people to be better listeners. In today’s world, people seem to only hear and voice their opinions on things but fail to actually listen to or consider what others say or feel. As someone who is guilty of doing this, I know that it only causes more harm than good. So, recently I have been trying to really listen to people by putting my thoughts aside and seeing things from other people’s perspectives. Since I started doing this, I have noticed a significant improvement in my relationships and interactions. 

 

Better listening can in many ways help people create a more empathetic, communicative, and harmonious world. One way in which it can do this is by promoting understanding. By engaging in conversation and showing interest people can gain a better understanding of who a person is and what their perspectives, experiences, needs, and desires are. This can help build empathy and compassion, and ultimately work towards resolving conflicts and finding common ground. The second way is by encouraging communication. Listening to someone when they are talking not only creates a safe space for them to share their thoughts and feelings but can also foster open and honest communication. This is crucial for building relationships and finding practical solutions to problems. The third way listening can make our world a better place is by reducing misunderstandings. Often, when people misunderstand each other, it is because they are not fully hearing what the other person has to say. By practicing better listening, people can clarify personal perspectives and avoid making assumptions or judgments about others. And the last way is by building trust. Listening and being attentive during a conversation shows people that their opinions are valued and their feelings are considered. This will help to build trust and strengthen relationships, which is essential for creating positive change. 

 

In my opinion, people today are so opinionated that many have forgotten that it is possible to listen to other people’s perspectives without it turning into an argument that one must win. A phrase from the excerpt that made me think of the importance of listening is "accepting shared accountability for common human values." If someone is not willing to listen to someone with a differing point of view, then how are they ever going to share accountability in the future? Of course, when I think about my future after graduation, I think about what I want to do and how I will get myself there, but there is a possibility that it could go wrong if I don’t listen to what other people have to say. Because I don’t really have years and years of work experience or any idea on how to build a career for myself, I think it will be very helpful and enlightening for me to listen to the advice and doubt others may have to offer. I want to listen to what other people have to say after I graduate, because it most likely will be beneficial for me, and even if their opinion doesn’t work out, at least I’ll know that I learned from it and gained insight that I might not have received otherwise.