Falanabhai: You know, I’ve realized I struggle to listen to people sometimes. It’s like my mind just drifts off.

Dhikna bhai: Yeah, that happens to me too. For me, it’s usually because I’m preoccupied with my own thoughts or I assume I already know what the other person’s going to say.

Falanabhai: Same here! Sometimes, I get impatient, especially if the conversation feels too long. Or if I’m tired or stressed, I just can’t focus.

Falanabhai: Right! And honestly, sometimes I realize I’m judging the person or their topic as uninteresting, which makes it worse.

Dhikna bhai: Yeah, I’ve noticed my ego gets in the way too, like I prioritize my own thoughts over truly listening.

Falanabhai: You know what’s harder? When someone tells me something uncomfortable about myself—like pointing out a truth I don’t want to face. That makes me want to shut down completely.

Dhikna bhai: Oh, I’ve been there. Especially if they’re upset because of something I did. It’s like I don’t want to feel guilty, so I just avoid hearing them out. Sometimes, I either use gaslighting—making them question their feelings—or whataboutism, where I shift the blame by saying, "What about what you did?"

Falanabhai: Oh, I know those. Gaslighting invalidates their emotions, and whataboutism deflects the issue entirely. Neither actually addresses the problem.

Dhikna bhai: Exactly. Both are ways to avoid accountability, and they damage trust. I’ve realized that truly listening means owning up to my actions instead of using these tactics.

Falanabhai: Same! Listening with empathy and addressing issues directly is tough, but it’s the only way to build better relationships.

Dhikna bhai: Absolutely. It’s all about effort and honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Falanabhai: You know, sometimes I also realize that if I don’t like the person or if I have some bias against them, I just tune out. It’s like I’m not giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Dhikna bhai: Yeah, that’s true. Bias and dislike can make listening almost impossible. It’s easy to dismiss them without truly understanding what they’re saying. But it’s unfair to judge them that way.

Falanabhai: Exactly! That’s another thing I need to work on. Everyone deserves to be heard, no matter who they are.