Listening Courageously

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Courage is the most important of all virtues, because without courage you cannot practice any of the other virtues consistently,” Dr. Maya Angelou said. When you think of being courageous, you might think of facing a common fear like the fear of heights or public speaking. Facing fears like these involves discomfort and uncertainty. We might wonder if the potential benefits will outweigh the potential risks. But why might it take courage to listen? How might listening to different points of view make us feel vulnerable or at risk? And what are the possible benefits?

• What does “courageous listening” mean for you? Describe any times you have listened, or been listened to in this way. What happened?
• What fears, if any, do you have about how you will feel or what you will say or do when listening to people whose beliefs or experiences differ from your own?
• How do you feel when there are silence and gaps in conversations? What are the potential benefits of giving a conversation breathing room?
• What are the potential benefits you might receive from listening to others with differing beliefs or experiences?
• What, if anything, are you willing to do to overcome fears about listening to those with different beliefs or experiences?
  

The information above is an excerpt from the conversation guide. You’ll need to download the complete guide to host your conversation.