By W. A. PETERSON

The key to the art of listening is selectivity. You stand guard at the ear‑gateway to your mind, heart, and spirit. You decide what you will accept.

Listen to the good. Tune your ears to love, hope, and courage. Tune out gossip, fear, and resentment.

Listen to the beautiful. Relax to the music of masters: listen to the symphony of nature‑the wind in the tree‑tops, bird songs, thundering surfs.

Listen with your eyes. Let your imagination make real the "sounds" expressed in a poem, a novel, a picture.

Listen critically. Mentally challenge assertions, ideas, philosophies. Seek the truth with an open mind.

Listen with patience. Do not hurry the other person. Show him the courtesy of listening to what he has to say, no matter how much you may disagree. You may learn something.

Listen with your heart. Practice empathy when you listen; put yourself in the other person's place and try to hear his problems in your heart.

Listen for growth. Be an inquisitive listener. Ask questions. Everyone has something to say which will help you to grow.

Listen to yourself. Listen to your deepest yearnings, your highest aspirations, your noblest impulses. Listen to the better man within you.

Listen with depth. Be still and meditate. Listen with the ear of intuition for the inspiration for the infinite.