talk less, listen more

here's an experiment that will make you deeply uncomfortable: go an entire day without initiating a single conversation. only speak when someone speaks to you first. respond, then shut up.

why silence terrifies you

most people talk to fill space. they talk to feel important, to control the narrative, to avoid the discomfort of quiet. but every word you speak is a word you're not learning from.

think about the last conversation you had. how much of it was you waiting for your turn to talk? how much were you actually processing what the other person said? be honest.

the listening experiment

the rules are simple:

1. do not start any conversation
2. when someone talks to you, listen with full attention -- no phone, no wandering thoughts
3. respond only to what they actually said, not to what you want to talk about
4. let silences exist without rushing to fill them

what you'll notice is startling. people tell you more when you stop competing for airtime. you pick up on things you've been missing for years -- tone shifts, hesitations, the things people almost say but don't.

what silence teaches you

when you stop performing in conversations, you start actually being present in them. you'll realize how much of your talking is ego-driven. how much is just noise you generate to feel like you matter in the room.

the best communicators in the world are ferocious listeners. they speak less, but when they do speak, people lean in. because their words carry weight. yours can too.

start today

pick one conversation today and commit to listening at 100%. don't plan your response while they're talking. don't interrupt. don't redirect to your own story. just absorb.

you'll be amazed at what you've been missing while you were busy hearing yourself talk.

if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.