Listen

When I ask you to listen to me,
you start giving me advice.
You have not done what I've asked.

When I ask that you listen to me,
you begin to tell me why I shouldn't feel that way & encourage me to cheer up.
You are trampling on my feelings.

When I ask you to listen to me,
you feel that you have to do something to solve my problems & help me,
You have failed me.

Listen.
All that I've requested is to listen to me
Not talk or do - just hear me.

When you do something for me
That I need to do for myself,
You contribute to my fear and feelings of inadequacy.

But when you accept as a simple fact
That I do feel what I feel, no matter how irrational,
Then I can quit trying to convince you
And go about the business
Of understanding what's behind my feelings.

So, please listen and just hear me
And, if you wanna talk,
Wait a minute for your turn - and I'll listen to you.