Read time: 5 minutes.
This is your permission to pause and take a little time for yourself.

I started to realize that most people listen to reply, not to understand. While someone else is talking, our minds are already rehearsing what we’re going to say next, and we completely miss what the other person is trying to share.

But, how do you fix that? The answer is curiosity.

You trade the urge to reply for the desire to be curious.

To put this into practice, start by using a simple reflection during your next conversation. Before offering your perspective, ask this one game-changing question that invites you to pause and ground into curiosity: "Can you tell me a little more about that?"

Watch how that one question changes the entire pace and tone of the conversation. And then listen for what the other person says next. I guarantee you will learn something new, something deeper.

If you sense some tension building or feel the conversation stalling, you can also keep a few more curious questions in your back pocket.

Here’s two of my favourites:

When you choose to listen to understand rather than respond, you walk away from the interaction making a genuine connection.

Love,
Jay ❤️

I sat down with communication expert Jefferson Fisher to explore why the conversations we avoid often shape our lives the most. Drawing from his experience as a trial lawyer turned teacher, Jefferson shares a powerful truth: communication isn’t about winning arguments, it’s about building peace.

Remember, I’m in your corner today, tomorrow, and anytime you need a little permission to believe that everything is going to work out.