As you begin your journey to active listening, you will encounter some barriers and obstacles along the way. Don't worry; this is normal and natural. Learning to listen actively and objectively will require some work on your part.

Some of the more common barriers can be overcome with practice, dedication, and a commitment from you to become a better listener.

• Noise and distractions. Learn to tune out common noises and distractions by focusing solely on the person communicating. Giving them your undivided attention can help you do this.

• Emotions. Leaving your emotions aside while listening will allow you to listen with a “clean slate.” It is hard to listen to someone when you are angry or frustrated or sad.

• Prejudices. Your prejudices can cause you to tune out information that may be helpful to you. Your prejudices may extend beyond the message, to the person speaking.

• Information overload. It is difficult to judge how much information may come from a certain situation. Ways to deal with information overload include listening for the main issues, taking notes while listening, and asking questions if the opportunity arises.

• Language and dialect barriers. When a person speaks a language other than your own, you may have trouble with certain sounds and dialects. One way to combat this is to listen intently to the person communicating and to look at his or her lips. Sometimes, watching a person's lips can help with translation.

• A.D.D. If you have attention deficit disorder, this may be a hard barrier to overcome. You can get medical advice and/or prescription medication to assist you in focusing your attention.

• Nonverbal communication. It may be that a person's body language is so distracting that it is difficult to listen to them because of this nonverbal communication. Try to be patient and focus your attention on the message, not the messenger.

• Impatience. This is another difficult barrier to overcome, but it can be overcome with work and concentration. Don't let your immediate need for satisfaction cheat you out of information that may be needed later on. If you feel yourself becoming impatient, use positive self-talk to relax yourself and bring yourself back into focus.

• Lack of interest. There are few things worse than a person who is boring. However, just because the person may lack communication skills, this does not mean that their message is unimportant or trivial. Try to focus on the information that you need and try to ask yourself, How can I use this information to help others and myself?

Conquering these barriers will assist you in becoming a more dynamic, active listener in almost every situation, from work to love, from business to friendship.

Active listening will help you in more ways than you can imagine. It allows you to be more active in your own life, and in the lives of those you love. It allows you to be able to help others on a level that you never dreamed you could. It allows you to garner information and data that will be helpful to you for the rest of your life.

Most importantly, however, listening can help you build stronger, more productive, more caring, and compassionate relationships. Everyone loves a person who speaks well, but a person who listens well endears herself for eternity.