Listening is more than the act of hearing words. It’s a practice; an active choice. It involves both action and stillness, presence and purpose.

We listen for different reasons:
To understand.
To respond.
To calm or center ourselves.
To engage, to motivate, to connect, to ground.

All of this is to say, listening while I work feels like its own kind of experience. As my professional life shifts and evolves, I’ve come to notice how my relationship with listening has changed depending on the situation and intention behind it.

Listening to Understand

As a teacher, one of the most essential forms of listening is listening to understand, not just to reply, but to really hear what a child or student is trying to express.

This kind of listening means paying attention not just to the words, but to body language, tone, and intention. It communicates respect. And with children especially, being truly heard can be transformational.

When students feel seen and valued, they become more comfortable sharing. And that openness creates room for deeper relationships, stronger communication, and meaningful academic growth.

Listening to Center or Calm

Lately, I’ve been learning how to listen to myself… and while it may sound strange to put it that way, it’s been one of the most empowering practices I’ve taken on.

Listening inward means noticing my breath, my mental state, and the sounds around me. Just one intentional minute of this kind of listening can shift my energy completely. In moments of stress or chaos, pausing to breathe and ground myself helps reset my focus and return to what I was doing with clarity.

This is something I’ve found incredibly valuable to model for children. Naming your feelings and walking kids through your calming strategies; out loud, helps them develop the language and tools they need for emotional regulation.
Even more powerful is building in calm, centering moments throughout the day when emotions are still manageable. The more we give children time and space to practice this kind of listening, the more accessible it becomes when they need it most.

Listening as a Way of Being

Listening is one of the most powerful skills we have. It plays a role in every interaction; with others and with ourselves.

It can calm or energize us.
It can deepen relationships and improve communication.
It can bring us closer to peace, purpose, and presence.

So listen when you need to find calm. Listen when joy shows up. Listen intentionally when others speak, and listen inwardly when the world gets loud.

There is so much to hear.
There is so much to learn.

Listen on.