It's still early, the day has just begun. My first tinnitus patient has canceled, and the silence in my office is filled with sounds from the waiting room.
The door is open. I hear a conversation between an older man, recently retired, and a young woman, a mother waiting while her child undergoes a hearing test in the audiology booth. Their voices gently filter through. I continue to listen, with respect and attention.
The man shares a profound loss. Years ago, he lost a loved one at far too young an age. It brought pain and sorrow that he couldn't fully comprehend at the time. He reflects on a period when, as a teenager, he struggled with himself, with the misunderstanding of others, and with the world around him.
The young woman listens without judgment. Her words are gentle and carefully chosen. "Everyone carries their own sorrow," she says, "but it's not always visible." She acknowledges what he feels and offers space for his story.
When he mentions that he often sees the world in a negative light, she offers a different perspective: "We can change the world by starting with ourselves. How we think determines how we react. Step by step."
Her words resonate like a core principle of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She invites him to examine his perspective, to acknowledge his thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. From there, space is created to take valuable steps, no matter how small.
The conversation moves me. It shows how listening and being present form the foundation for true connection. This young woman didn’t need to solve anything; she simply created a safe space where words could exist.
The waiting room became a place of meaning for a moment. Not just a space where time passes, but a space where stories were shared, where grief and hope could stand side by side.
It reminds me of what ACT teaches us: that we don’t need to fight against pain or discomfort. We can see it for what it is, carry it with compassion, and still keep moving toward what truly matters.
Listening opens doors. It connects us with each other and with ourselves.
What can you hear if you become still?
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