When was the last time you experienced a full uninterrupted moment with another person?

Where just for a moment the other person was all that you could hear and see?

Where just for a moment all your attention was focused on them?

Where just for a moment they were the most important person in the world?

John Steinbeck wrote “Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love.”

Ponder that for a moment.

Now imagine what the world would look like if we all practiced understanding first.

Stephen Covey captured a similar sentiment when he said “seek first to understand, then to be understood.”

But seeking to understand takes intent. It takes time.

And not shallow time, flitting between disengaged and engaged.

It requires big full moments of time without distractions.

The next time you have the good fortune of engaging with another person give them your full attention even if it’s for just a short amount of time.

And yes, I say good fortune because having the opportunity to spend time with someone should not be taken for granted. In fact there are many lonely individuals that crave attention and the interaction of another human.

So put the words of Steinbeck and Covey to practice and experience the richness that an uninterrupted, fully engaged moment with another person can provide for them and for you.

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it please share it with someone you love.