This is such an excellent post! You really got me with this part:

I'm always struck by how rare the experience is of being truly listened to, how quickly bonds can form when deep listening is present in a conversation, and how feeling heard and understood opens people up to being able to hear and understand the other.

Feeling like someone else isn't listening makes it feel like they don't care, and creates a disconnect in a relationship. On the other hand, when someone gives you their full attention it can be like a magnet. They see you, understand you. What an amazing thing!

Thanks for this reminder, of the need to listen so the other person will also listen back, and that listening "is an act of will."