Listening – The Key to Navigating Life by DiAnn Mills

 

Congratulations to DiAnn Mills on her new release, Canyon of Deceit.

Release Date: September 9, 2025

Order your copy today!

 

 

 

Listening – The Key to Navigating Life by DiAnn Mills

We’ve grown up hearing instructions to “listen,” and wisdom is woven into the word. As children, we were told to listen to our parents and others who were 1) wiser, 2) chose to protect us, and 3) had more life experience. As teens and adults, sage advice is always to listen.

Learning and listening are companions, joined by love for others and a benefit for ourselves.

The art of listening is not simply a learning tool but a means to navigate life. The storms that threaten our perspective on life can overwhelm us, yet listening to what is happening around us helps us make insightful decisions.

It’s been said that some of us look as though we’re listening to someone speak when we are only waiting for them to finish so we can give our opinion.

“It is hard to engage in listening to another person with empathy if you are waiting for the spotlight to shine back on you.” – Ramani Durvasula

The advantages of developing our listening skills:

• A better understanding of why others have chosen their behavior.
• A better understanding of what influences the way others believe.
• A better understanding of underlying emotions and prejudices that accompany actions.
• A better understanding of what inspires others.
• A better understanding of what determines a leader’s opinions.
• A better understanding of clarity.
• A better understanding of why relationships succeed or fail.
• A better understanding of why respect is vital in all relationships.
• A better understanding of ourselves.

“One of the benchmarks of great communicators is their ability to listen not just to what’s being said, but to what’s not being said as well. They listen between the lines.” – Laurie Buchanan

How do we enrich our listening skills?

1. Concentrate on every word a person says, how it’s said, and their body language.
2. Learn how a person receives and interprets information.
3. Ask questions for clarification.
4. Discover unique phrases and body language that apply to a person’s communication.
5. Study the person’s culture, education, career, and often family life.
6. Show empathy and sincerity.
7. Refuse to slow down the speaker.
8. Push away distractions.
9. Refrain from using open-ended language.
10. Process what was said later to improve our skills.

How do you truly listen to others?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who invites her readers to step into stories where suspense meets adventure and romance warms the heart. Known for crafting unforgettable characters tangled in unpredictable plots, DiAnn believes every breath we take unfolds a story waiting to be told—so why not make it thrilling?

Her novels have consistently landed on bestseller lists including CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly, and have won prestigious awards such as the Christy, Selah, Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol awards.

DiAnn is a founding board member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Conference Advisor for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers. She actively participates in Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and International Thriller Writers, DiAnn passionately invests in helping fellow authors succeed through mentoring, book coaching, and editing. She travels nationwide speaking and teaching engaging writing workshops.

A proud coffee snob who roasts her own beans, DiAnn also enjoys diving into good books, experimenting in the kitchen, and unabashedly spoiling her grandchildren—whom she insists are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband make their home under the sunny skies of Houston, Texas.

Connect with DiAnn online for behind-the-scenes glimpses, writing tips, and lively discussions: Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn, or her website: diannmills.com.