The Art of Listening

The section on Empathy in the Great Library was one of the most popular. A nice and gentle breeze always reminded the Espers of the presence of Gurumin, the Shape of Empathy and Compassion.
On this day, a lesson was given on the Art of Listening.

“Is that difficult?” jiggled a young Esper. “It just means we need to focus on the sound they produce and adjust our StarDust accordingly, right?”

“It’s true that when we want to listen, we need to do that,” gently replied Gurumin, “but the Art of Listening goes beyond just the sound. We have to genuinely listen, without judgment.”

“Genuinely?”
“Without judgment?” asked two other young ones.

“Yes. Genuinely means you have to truly listen to what the other person is saying—not just prepare your own reply while nodding.
Without judgment is perhaps the most difficult part. You need to adapt your StarDust so that your Empathy is at its highest level. By doing so, as much as you can, you’ll be practicing the Art of Listening.”

Want to share?


Comments

Leave a Reply


Our latest tales

  • Values

    Values

    What we come to see as “good” values and the proper behaviors to follow are learned throughout our lives. As children, we naturally mimic the actions and thoughts we observe — through the words and gestures of our parents, siblings, teachers, or friends we play with. When we are still very young, we hold no…

    Read more

  • A Limit to Willpower

    A Limit to Willpower

    Faya, the Shape of Willpower, often used comparisons to explain the principles she had to teach. For willpower, her element of fire offered an easy image to grasp—one that clearly showed how willpower has its limits. To keep a fire alive, you need the right amount of fuel. If the fire burns too fiercely, it…

    Read more

  • A Pillar for Life

    A Pillar for Life

    Since the collective consciousness of all Espers had finally been reached, health as a pillar of life was naturally embraced as the path to follow. The realization of the existence of both the StarDust and the Shadow within each of them brought about a profound and lasting change across Esperia. Health now stood at the…

    Read more

  • Collective Consciousness

    Collective Consciousness

    Eklea was reflecting on how Esperia had radically changed since the end of the Chaos War and the discovery of StarDust. “This created a collective consciousness,” she whispered. Indeed, the different elemental Espers had never thought of Esperia as a whole before this event. She believed that even if a few Espers were aware of…

    Read more

  • Singing

    Singing

    Gurumin, the Shape of Empathy and Compassion, had a beautiful voice, and for the pleasure of every Esper willing to listen, she loved to hum and sing. As the Element of Wind, her sweet melodies were carried gently through the calm breeze, and anyone who listened to her soft and delicate voice was reminded of…

    Read more

  • Unity Makes Strength

    Unity Makes Strength

    How the Chaos War ended made it clear to the Seven Shapes that unity brings strength. It was only by combining their magical powers that the StarDust was finally revealed! Until then, no one would have imagined that the key to harmony had always been lying dormant within them. But understanding is one thing; putting…

    Read more

  • Restrictions

    Restrictions

    Atma, the Shape of Balance, was entrusted with one of the most difficult tasks: creating a consensus in which the Espers would agree to limit their use of magic for the good of all Esperia. But understanding the flow of Aether was the starting point of her lesson.Because the world of Esperia has limits, and…

    Read more

  • Time Crisis

    Time Crisis

    The importance of time is often realized only when we finally perceive the fleeting nature of life. Shala, the Shape of Time, knew that better than anyone. Having lived through countless ages, she had watched entire civilizations rise and fall, and the endless cycle of life and death had brought her both joy and sorrow.…

    Read more