Westside Podcast
Three Ways You're Fake Listening Without Even Knowing It
Send us Fan Mail You're 30 seconds into a conversation, and you can already see their eyes glazing over. Or worse, you're the one glazing. This week on Midweek Motivation, Jess gets honest about three ways we fake listen without meaning to, and what it actually looks like to hear someone well. If you've ever caught yourself mentally composing your response before the other person finished their sentence, this one will sting a little (in a good way). Discover: The three most common listening traps: distraction, self-focused listening, and listening with an agenda to fix Why sharing a similar story back often feels like a competition instead of a connection What Proverbs 18:13 says about answering before you've actually heard someone A three-layer listening method: what happened, what it meant to them, what it touched in them How to offer support without turning someone into a project Presence is the first thing someone notices before a single word is spoken. And in a world full of scrolling, multitasking, and mental noise, the simple act of looking someone in the eye and actually hearing them might be the most radical thing you can do this week. Key Takeaways: Your presence is the number one gift you can offer someone Stay curious, not competitive. Ask follow-up questions instead of sharing a follow-up story. Listening to fix someone isn't love. Holding space for them is. Ask permission before jumping in with solutions Real listening builds the kind of trust where people feel safe enough to be fully known Question for you to think about: When is the last time you asked a follow-up question instead of sharing a follow-up story? If this made you rethink how you show up in conversations, share it with someone who needs it. Drop a comment and tell us which listening trap you're working on. Subscribe so you never miss a Midweek Motivation. Series: The Wild Work of God (Acts 1-6) at Westside Community Church Framework: BLESS (Begin with prayer, Listen, Eat, Serve, Share) Scripture referenced: Proverbs 18:13 SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1 Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx #MidweekMotivation #Listening #BLESS #WestsideCommunityChurch #WildWorkOfGod #Communication #Relationships #ChristianLiving #Presence #ListenWell
