u/SoggyRecognition2290

I'm researching listening. The kind that makes you feel like you actually exist in the room.

I think there is something profound that happens when someone truly listens to us. And in this busy world of constant distractions it feels like we are increasingly making less time to really connect.

A couple of things I'd love to hear from this community if it feels safe:

Do you feel heard — and if so, by whom? And who in your life listens the least?

Has anyone ever listened to you in a way that genuinely changed something?

I'm gathering opinions from all ages for a short anonymous research survey — five minutes, no right or wrong answers, just honest experience:

🔗 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdpxyabWEa8enyuTZGt3rJysbp5_Dsj5OiYpJzlu0UpQ5wxSQ/viewform

Only share what feels safe. Your words here matter just as much. 👇

https://preview.redd.it/3wiv9x176g1h1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=dd64d2434a32c07feabb504ebe29fc03ff666559

I want to ask this gently because I know this community understands this in a way most people don't.

Growing up in a home where your physical needs were met but your emotional world was largely invisible. Where feelings weren't discussed. Where you learned early on to stay quiet, to manage yourself, to not take up too much space.

And the particular loneliness of that, because from the outside everything looked fine.

I've been thinking a lot about the relationship between emotional neglect and listening. Because at the heart of emotional neglect is precisely this, not being truly heard by the people who were supposed to hear you most.

A few things I'd love to hear your thoughts on if you feel comfortable sharing:

Did you feel truly listened to growing up — or did you learn to stop expecting it?

Has that shaped how you listen to others now — or how comfortable you are being listened to?

And has anyone ever truly listened to you in a way that changed something for you?

Please only share what feels safe here. And if you'd rather contribute anonymously to my research on listening and human connection, I'm also happy to share a short survey — five minutes, completely anonymous, no right or wrong answers. Just your honest experience, helping others understand the power of truly being heard.

So many of us grew up in homes where we were loved, but not necessarily heard. Where feelings weren't really discussed. Where the unspoken rule was just to get on with things.

And I wonder how much that shapes us as adults. How we listen.... or don't. How comfortable we are expressing ourselves. Whether we even know what it feels like to be truly heard.

A few things I'm genuinely curious about:

Did you feel listened to growing up — by your parents, your family, your teachers?

And now that you're adulting — do you feel heard by the people around you?

Do you think our generation is better or worse at listening than the ones before us?

I'm actually researching this — exploring how well we truly listen to one another across generations and what gets in the way. If anyone wants to contribute there's a short anonymous survey here — takes about four minutes and there are no right or wrong answers:

https://preview.redd.it/7yd972t3931h1.png?width=1414&format=png&auto=webp&s=46bfcc1f801ab91c9eb5a9d6fdff0882158458f0

🔗 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdpxyabWEa8enyuTZGt3rJysbp5_Dsj5OiYpJzlu0UpQ5wxSQ/viewform

Would genuinely love to hear people's experiences. 👇