Listening People’s Problems

November 28, 2017 by wilsonagaba 57 Comments

When I was in Uganda (Africa) recently I learned something important from the students I met with. I was holding meetings often with students in different places and most of them were interested to share their problems with me. It was hard to solve their problems, but I decided to listen to them and let them express their feelings without me giving them my ideas.

Yes, I felt their problems so deeply, but I felt that needed to listen to them when they were sharing with me their problems instead of giving them my solutions. Later on, I asked them why don’t you share your problems with your parents or guardians? Most of them had the same answer by saying that our parents are always giving us solutions without listening to us express our feelings. That means some of the students don’t get enough attention to share more deeply their problems with the parents or guardians because of parents giving them quick solutions.

I used to do the same, but since then I learned to help them in the form of listening to people instead of coming up with my solutions. Often, after I listened to them they later came back and told me they were able to solve their problem.

I felt as if I did nothing to support them, but the students were appreciating me for listening to them.

Most of them said that it was a new experience for them being listened to. So I got to know that sometimes people want our attentions more than solutions. What do you think?