Before You Cut Bangs

2.7 The Art of Listening: Beyond Fixing and Finding Connection

Laura Quick and Claire Fierman

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0:00 | 32:50

Are you listening!? Will probably isn't. Laura and Claire explore the complexities of being a good listener, discussing different approaches to friends versus acquaintances, and the role personal boundaries play in these interactions. 


Listening Without the Need to Fix

Speaker 1

Welcome to , before you Cut Bangs . I'm Laura Quick and I'm Claire Fehrman . I am a professional storyteller and I'm currently working on my first book .

Speaker 2

I have worked in mental health for many years in lots of capacities and this is a really important time to tell you our big disclaimer this is not therapy . We are not your therapists or coaches or anything like that .

Speaker 1

Yeah , I mean you shouldn't really trust us very much at all , unless you want to and it turns out well , then you can trust us , that's great .

Speaker 3

I've got a question .

Speaker 2

Yeah , let's get to it . Praise the Lord .

Speaker 3

If you had to listen to one album , if you could only listen to that album for the rest of your life you're stuck with that one album what would it be ?

Speaker 2

Can it be two ?

Speaker 3

Well , that'd be cheating , but sure .

Speaker 2

Simon and Garfunkel , wednesday morning 3 am . Grateful Dead . American Beauty Okay .

Speaker 1

I am stuck . Which out who's that by ? Yeah , laura Quick , I'm stuck which out who's that by ?

Speaker 1

yeah , laura quick , I'm stuck the answer was Clayton oh , yeah , yeah , yeah his new EP out now on all streaming platforms , called shitty , which he literally did on purpose , because he's like I just want to look back at this and be like . In case I think it's shitty in a year or two years I'll be like yeah , so what ? Because his last song on that album is called Shitty Song . He wrote it for a girl . They went through a breakup and the girl he was dating her boyfriend wrote a really shitty song and released it and it went pretty big about her and so he wrote a song in response called shitty song .

Speaker 2

So Alanis Morissette ?

Speaker 1

Yeah , he's very 1990s for the 2003 , kid he is . Yeah , obviously my favorite album on repeat would be anything by Clayton or Coldplay . I mean , I got a lot of that nostalgic parachutes parachutes Like how can you be mad at that album ? It's still good .

Speaker 3

Most people that aren't really into Coldplay much like that album it's what I hear from people . The Beatles the White Album .

Speaker 2

It's a good one .

Speaker 3

So many songs .

Speaker 1

It kind of flows , that's a good one .

Speaker 3

I haven't heard that album in a while . I remember getting that for Christmas actually it's the first album not that I purchased , but that I was wearing out to the point where Reed was like I think you need to take a break because you're going to hate that record if you continue this .

Speaker 1

But that didn't happen . That's how I do . That's called ADHD .

Speaker 3

That's what we do . I'm listening now . I'm listening .

Speaker 2

That's perfect , because today we're talking about A listening and B appropriately and be appropriately using your voice .

Speaker 1

I think is how I would say that , yeah , I think one of the things , one we're launching into a brand new year so it's 2025 now which is exciting .

Speaker 2

Y'all have all joined Planet Fitness and are on a Whole30 or Keto . We know , we see you . We know what you've done , we see you .

Speaker 1

Or maybe you haven't , and that's totally cool too . But at the end of the day it's a new year and we get to do things differently than maybe we've done them before .

Speaker 3

And I should point out that this is another outside on the front porch episode , and so there's like a fire . You may hear there's a lawnmower , a blower or something going . So it's just you know .

Speaker 1

You hear some nature tap , tap , tap with my fingernails . Okay , but truly I think one of the big overarching themes is how do you listen and not be tempted to fix Claire ?

Speaker 2

we had this big movement about using your voice , speak your truth , which I think is hard for people and we can touch on that if we get to it . But to me , what is more difficult than speaking truth or what I've observed working with people , is listening to somebody else's , because it can be so uncomfortable and immediately if someone's telling us and I don't even mean in Will's biggest nightmare confrontation , I just mean something distressing , sad , hard , whatever it is , typically our nervous system responds tighten up , rapid heart rate , shortness of breath and we're either prepared to respond and fix like you're asking , let me tell you all the solutions or to defend and all that is is our way to self-soothe and you know what happens to that person talking , what they feel , so disconnected .

Speaker 1

I think I'm gonna speak for myself like one of the things that I know is a struggle and has required a ton and the thing that changed me because I do think there's some things that happen in our lives that convince us listening is actually the nicest , kindest thing we can do for someone else , especially when they're giving you a hard part of their story or something really traumatic that happened to them .

Speaker 1

Group therapy changed the trajectory of my life because in group , a great therapist will not let you make somebody feel like , won't let you soothe yourself in that moment moment which I think what Claire's saying is a lot of times like somebody shares something with you and you go , oh man , that is terrible , or how dare they , or whatever it is , whatever the response is , and instead that's like in group , you're allowed to say I resonate with that yeah , you tell how you relate yeah , I relate to that in blank , but I think that it taught me a lot , and so I have had to teach myself how to say what do you need from me in this moment , and give people an opportunity to say , hey , I need advice or I just need you to listen , because , man , I will , will .

Speaker 1

I would love to build you a five point plan .

Speaker 2

So what you're talking about

Navigating Friendship and Communication Styles

Speaker 2

. And there's this newer book called secure love . I highly , highly , highly recommend it . Whether you're married , dating , single , it doesn't matter . Parent not parent , secure love is amazing .

Speaker 2

Talking about this , and one of the first things the author Julie talks about is , um , when we can really really listen and hear someone , we also have to know what our need is , and so if you're in some kind of relationship and that person cannot identify what they need to feel connected to , you're kind of fucked . Sorry , thanks , that hits . So I'll throw me and Bobby right under the bus . So we went to couples therapy recently and I was really angry about some things , and I am usually the person in couples therapy that's like you go ahead , let me sit here and listen , but I was pissed and so I just like go for it .

Speaker 2

And the therapist who's a therapist who sees therapists , like that's very key um for me . Um , she's like we're just gonna go back to basics , bobby , what I want you to look at Claire and tell her what she said . And he looks at her and is like sounds like she has a lot of high expectations and that therapist was . Well , I didn't hear her say that at all . Can you look at Claire and repeat back what you heard her say ? He's still looking at her and she's like no , I didn't hear her say that . Can you look at Claire ?

Speaker 2

And poor Bobby man , he's so uncomfortable and he's getting red with that Scottish skin and I'm like and I really did feel bad in the moment , I wanted to cheat so bad and be like just think about it , man , what I just said and that precious therapist said what you're doing is so human . We get so worried about what our loved one is trying to say that we start working really hard and we cannot hear her . And he's like you're right , I didn't listen at all and like but it was like such freedom for him to be told like you were so scared , you were so worried that you just couldn't do it and it was great . Well , you want to get it right ?

Speaker 1

I think I did . Obviously you did get it right when he had a turn .

Speaker 2

She's like Claire . What did you hear him say ?

Speaker 1

And I was like well , actually I'll verbatim give it back to you right now he said blanking , blanking , blanking .

Speaker 1

I will win . And I think , like mirroring is something that I do a lot and work like . Obviously I have clients who are dumping like oh my gosh , here's all the things , and so mirroring back to people is something I do for a day-to-day part of my job . But that's not necessarily what a person , a friend , who comes to you and they tell you oh my god , here's this heavy thing that just happened , whether it's like something with their kids or something in their relationship or a deep loss or whatever and I'm just like geared to be a fixer . I want to fix it for you , I want to make it better , and so it's why Because , claire , it makes me feel valuable and listening makes me feel stupid . I mean , it's like not really stupid , but I think it makes me feel a little helpless . Are you a fixer ?

Speaker 3

No , I was gonna say , because a lot of times like no look within my you know core group or whatever , but no , because a lot of times , like now , look within my you know core group or whatever , but no , because a lot of times like that's none of my business , that's so beautiful . It is Well . Also . It makes me feel selfish , though .

Speaker 2

Say more about that .

Speaker 3

Well , okay , I'm a bad listener . For one Right , which is kind of different than what we were just saying Go ahead . But that is based purely on my , like , chemical makeup . It's not trying to be selfish or not caring or whatever , it's just that it's like reading a book . I can , you know , read a chapter and have no idea what I read , even though I'm the one reading it , because my brain can be thinking about something else . And that's the same thing in conversation sometimes with people where I realize , like oh , you've left the building .

Speaker 3

Yeah , Like I don't know what they just said . I was trying Whatever , so that I'm just inherently a bad listener , but also it's that whole thing of like other people . It's why I could not care any less about any like celebrity couple or any couple that is not actually that I'm involved with like talking to all the time , because I don't . Why do I need that ? Why do I need that drama ?

Speaker 1

Well , I don't , why do I need that ? Why do I need that drama ? Well , and I think you've just I wrote down something too earlier when we were kind of talking about this is like tier one friends , like how you listen to your tier one friends and how you listen to a tier two or tier three . To me they're different , because if I call you and I say here's what just happened , you don't really have to ask me . Are you asking me ? For if I called you , it's because I'm freaking out and I need you .

Speaker 3

I still ask you that you do you do she's so kind about that I bet even like tier two , tier three friends I would be like oh yeah , tell me , I'll try to give them advice on something relationship-wise or whatever .

Speaker 1

I'm just talking about people that I'm not really Well like . Yeah , but hopefully those people aren't trauma bombing you right in public . But I do think , like I find myself I never try to give advice to the cashier . I don't even though I have the face , and the cashier is like do you know what just happened to me and my son ? We haven't talked in three years and I don't even know if he's coming for Christmas this year . Like I have that face . People tell me those things and I'm always like that sounds really hard . How much is it , you know ?

Speaker 2

like is there a coupon for that ? So y'all are talking about two very different reasons of not listening Bobby's more on you like he'll kind of drift away into something else , and I see it in his eyes and that doesn't bother me . I mean it can be annoying to be honest , but it's , it doesn't feel malicious . I'm always like come on back , we got this , you know . And then you're talking about a sense of urgency your discomfort is distressing to me . So here's 27 things in order , with an appendix to make it better .

Speaker 1

Five point plan I've actually created a PowerPoint presentation that I would love to go through as you were talking .

Speaker 1

It's in my brain , but I'll project it . I think it's the same thing for me , like I'll and it's . I am an active listener . I listen to , really hear people , but it's mostly because of the way my brain works and as a strategist . So I'm thinking about a strategy , but I am really listening because this is how I'm programmed at work . So I'm always thinking about how to solve problems because it's what I get paid to do , but that's not necessarily great for friends who don't want me to fix their shit okay , but like with danielle , if she's telling me a work thing like oh listen to this terrible thing , whatever I am thinking about solutions for it , as she's talking to me , should I not be doing that ?

Speaker 2

Does she want a solution ?

Speaker 3

Well , I guess that's why she's telling me about it , right ?

Speaker 2

That's . Yeah , that's probably the one In like basic psychotherapy , if you just tell your story and the puzzle pieces fit together , we typically have relief of symptomology . Okay , just sharing that's even without a therapist saying here's some strategy , here's maybe you should talk to a psychiatrist . That's . Even before that , we typically find some amount of like a reduction of symptoms . Because I said it out loud , I saw him .

Speaker 2

Yeah , and I'm like , oh , and I'm connecting the good dots , Like a good therapist is just like shine a light here , shine a light here , You're the expert , meaning the client , Boom . So I would see what Daniel's response is . Is next time she tells you something ? If she'd be like do you have a fever ? If you were like do you want me to just listen or do you want some ideas ?

Speaker 3

Okay , and we don't have . It's nothing weird .

Speaker 2

I mean usually it is just a discussion . I think she always is like what should I do about this or whatever ? Didn't hear anything weird . Nothing weird .

Speaker 1

You're great , you're doing everything right and I think , like that has been , and that's probably my you want to help the people you love . I don't want you to be in distress , but most of the time I'm soothing myself if I step into your story and try to fix it for you . Instead of asking the question like , do you want me to listen or do you want some ideas ? Are you looking for me to help ? And my friends now it's kind of the thing I say , and so they'll say no , no , I want your ideas . Or hey , listen , put your idea hat on , I need help with this . Or hey , I think we might have to kill . I have a friend , literally , who is like we're going to kill these bitches who did this event Like they're trying to come after me .

Speaker 1

I'm like we ride at dawn , let's go , you know . So again , obviously it would not actually really kill anyone . Please know that . But I think helping people strategically is something that people know I love doing , but I don't want to do that for people who don't want it . I don't want to try and fix things that don't actually need to be fixed , because you become your own solution person if you just get to say it out loud sometimes so what both of y'all are describing , even though they're different , there's things to do , like if you're a drifter , which I just watched you drift away .

Speaker 3

I was listening , though .

Speaker 2

I heard you okay , I see it . Yeah , but I can do , I can listen to multiple things there .

Speaker 2

I can , yeah , all right um , basically , I have to prep bobby . We even had one this morning . I was like , hey , I have an idea , but I don't want . I mean , this sounds cold . But I knew what I needed . I knew if I shared an idea and he told me the ways to do it better or if it was wrong , that I would become defensive and unheard and that's really painful for me . So I was like I have an idea about our house and that's a big sticky point I think , probably in a lot of marriages . What are we going to do ? Buy , sell , build , whatever ? We had these discussions a thousand times and my request was I'm just hoping to share , like my dream with you . It's just a dream . I'm not getting a second mortgage , I haven't hired an architect , I've thought about all of those things , but I want you to hear my dream and listen . And he listened and he's like that is a really good idea . And I see him pause and he's like how do you want to pay for it ?

Speaker 2

And I was like nope , and I was like just dreams , just dreams .

Speaker 2

And he was like okay , he was like that's a really lovely dream . I was like perfect . So that was his discomfort . That's how he's super , super wired . And so to me , everybody's work in any kind of listening , whether it's professionally , in any kind of relationship with Laura's Uber driver , it's how do I soothe myself so this person feels connected to . And when I say soothe , I don't I mean for Bobby and Will . It's not like y'all are crying because we're sharing something that happened at work . It's my mind has a tendency to wander off . Can I pay attention to my feet on the floor ? Can I focus on my partner's eyes , you know , or whatever it is , or something she's holding so I can stay focused ? And for you it's like quiet , quiet , quiet . Feel my feet as well . What can I focus on ? Because both of y'all have to soothe . It's just busyness in there .

Speaker 1

And I think like I'm still working on it Same . I'm still working on how to make sure that I'm genuinely staying engaged and not taking away someone's , because I do think that's what I do when I jump the gun to go solution Take away somebody's pain , take away their pain , which is is impossible , by the way , right can you

Healing Through Authentic Communication

Speaker 1

not help ?

Speaker 3

you can help with their pain .

Speaker 2

Oh my gosh , yes , but I think the like . The premise of this is like , literally , someone hearing me reduces symptomology without solution , and I think that's the therapeutic side , right ?

Speaker 1

is that just letting someone be heard is actually a big relief . So if they're in a pressure cooker which a lot of times that's how it feels if something feels super overwhelming and you pick up the phone and you you phone a friend and you're like oh my god , this thing just happened . Whether it's traumatic or hard , or a fight with a partner or whatever it is , you just saying it to someone releases some of the pressure on the pressure cooker .

Speaker 2

Yes , so , and let's flip it to talking okay . So , um , theoretically and this is actually I couldn't even name what research this is from this is more like hippie folklore . Seems like a stretch hippie dippy yoga .

Speaker 2

Claire is in the building , folks theoretically between the ages of 7 to 12 . Developmentally , if you had something traumatic happen to you and I mean small trauma , big , whatever you're less likely to um , have strength in your voice , less clear , and you can do work and redeem all of that but or heal all of that . So , um , but I don't mean less likely to use my voice , just in the sense of I'm quiet and I don't share the truth . Sometimes people are overly vocal .

Speaker 1

You're kidding . I've never met anyone that had a trauma between the ages of 7 and 12 . Who's overly ?

Speaker 2

vocal , so it can really go both of those ways . What the fuck are you serious ? Are you fucking with me right now ?

Speaker 1

no , I didn't realize that specific age was a thing . Oh yeah , that a lot of things make sense for me in this moment . Just write me a check after this , okay , so this here , comes the hippie part throat chakra .

Speaker 2

Okay , so right here , Um , and like I said earlier , we went through this big thing of like use your voice and be authentic . Well , some of y'all didn't shut the fuck up and you're crying on Instagram .

Speaker 1

Okay , well , I'm not doing that , but I didn't mean yes .

Speaker 2

Yeah . So what I'm saying is is we had this idea that all of us were being quiet and keeping all these things to ourselves , and that is very true for a lot of people . And then other people swung so hard into really crazy over vocalization or and I'm totally guilty of this Mine isn't necessarily . I'm too quiet . Sometimes I'm like you're misunderstanding me . All I want is to be understood . So I'm totally guilty of this . Mine isn't necessarily . I'm too quiet . Sometimes I'm like you're misunderstanding me . All I want is to be understood . So I'm going to be loud and cry my eyes out and guess what ? Nobody's needs were met . Okay , so with each of these chakras , like our energy centers , today we're talking about our throat . It isn't just about talking , it's about can I listen and tolerate it ? The demon against the throat chakra and I love this is lies , and I don't think it means like crazy banana town lies which we've told good stories of , those particularly from Will's history , but not him lying , he just accommodates liars sometimes .

Speaker 1

Will knows how to find a good liar .

Speaker 2

It's like if I hold this and don't tell you the whole truth right now , that's a lie , so , lying , by omission , I'm going to leave out parts of this . So I'm comfortable and you're comfortable , but really we're both not in truth and you don't get relief , none .

Speaker 1

So then you're comfortable , but really , we're both not , and you don't get relief , none so . So then you ? You're still a pressure cooker , yeah , and now you also have the guilt , or the shame that comes along with that little tiny mistruth you told , thinking you were accomplishing something , whatever that lie was convincing you of at the time .

Speaker 2

And then we get to go back if we want to say when I shared that thing with you , I didn't say the whole truth . I really should have added this , and usually the other person's like what , Like , who cares ? Like you're all good but it feels so , exposing . So the demon is the lie whether I'm overly vocal or a more restrained person in my speech there's a lie somewhere , dear God , I did not realize that .

Speaker 1

I'm not going to go deep into this . There's two things that came up for me . One , some psychotic shit that you've had me do over the time , and I always ask you for these things . But you know , one of the things that I'll do is if Claire's done anything , if she's got a guy or got a girl for something I'm always like he's like well , send her my way . I want to go check it out and also .

Speaker 2

Shelly , are you talking about the massage ?

Speaker 1

Yes , I have had gongs on my literal ass because she'll be like oh , this girl . So I went and sat down with a massage therapist recently , within the last 12 months , because Claire's like she's magical and I'm like great . So she sits you down , which no therapist has ever done , no massage therapist has ever done for me before . She sat me down and she was like why are you here ? And I was like you know , I just really like I've been going through a lot and I , you know I'm working on this book and like there's a lot of like stuff that's coming up for me , some related , some not related . Probably all of it's related . So I'm not related , probably all of it's related . And she's like great . And then she was like well , you know your body , your throat , like she was just saying , but your body is keeping the score . And I said I know .

Speaker 1

And she said , no , you don't fucking know . And I was like I probably don't know . And then I had the weirdest fucking 55 minutes of my life . I don't even know how . She was sprinting around the room dinging all the dongs and the gongs . There was one literally on my ass . At one point she was standing on top of me . There's a lot happening . There are bells , there are chimes Chanting , a lot of .

Speaker 2

She was like don't worry about the .

Speaker 3

Did you not laugh .

Speaker 1

I literally was underneath and all I could see was her feet darting around the room , and then , when they would disappear completely , I would be like she's on top of me .

Speaker 2

I don't know what she did to me , but I start crying so loud .

Speaker 1

What I was weeping . I was weeping .

Speaker 2

I wish I could say it was weeping for me , but it was like I am not even going to say it .

Speaker 3

I would be crying from laughing .

Speaker 2

You would think that I have laughed in situations like that , where I'm like okay , this is cuckoo , there was no laughter . I wish I had laughed . I've had two massages like that .

Speaker 1

Okay , I brought that up because it's a great story . It's a great story One . The body keeping the score is a real thing . So , thinking about your throat , if you were a child who was told you can't use your voice , then a lot of times I mean a reoccurring dream I have is that I'm screaming and there's nothing coming out .

Speaker 1

I've had that my whole , my whole life Like . I cannot remember a time where I didn't dream that dream . Clearly , I'm loud as fuck , so we all know I don't have a problem using my voice now , but that's one thing , and so that makes a lot of sense .

Navigating Communication and Understanding Needs

Speaker 1

Another lady you sent me to not weird , super sweet , the lady in Mountain Brook , what's her name that you were like she will help you , and then I saw colors and she was like use your voice . What does Anita say ?

Speaker 2

I don't remember . I've been a shocker lady A lot of .

Speaker 2

Of course she does , but that lady really helped me and I had like a really tender moment with myself , which I don't have that often , and so I think , anyways , I'm just saying , like the , your body does know what happened to you , even if you you forgot so what you're talking about in those experiences when you didn't even have to have words , but like weeping or sound , or someone was like oh , there's this color , even if it was total placebo which I don't think it was placebo when I was wailing like a psychopath on Bridget's table .

Speaker 2

Well , Bridget , thanks Bridget but all it's like you didn't even have to have these direct words of what made you feel seen and important and understood . And so if you're listening and you're like cool throat chakra , what am I supposed to do with it ? Well , first and this I love this like listening to music in your car and singing , like that vibration , like I listened in its entirety to the sound of music soundtrack last night on my drive home from the beach . Of course you did Sang every song and it just felt so good , therapeutic , like I didn't have to go tell people about my problems yesterday or whatever , like you literally just get to use your voice and it doesn't have to be in this overshary , whatever way . And then you have to be really , if you're connecting with a partner , you have to know what your need is when you're connecting with them . Meaning and we'll use a really benign example , danielle and Will , she's probably like this crazy thing happened at work and you're my partner and I love you . Tell me what you think .

Speaker 3

Done .

Speaker 2

So she probably y'all probably already have that understanding With Bobby today in the house . Hey , I have this dream and I just want to say it out loud . And he got it 90% you know , Um . So I have to be very clear , and it makes it a lot easier if your partner's very clear on what they need , which is very tricky because if , if they're lashing out at you and you're like , but what do you need , I am available , and they're like throwing darts or spaghetti or whatever , Whatever the saying is , we don't know .

Speaker 2

And you're like that just doesn't make a lot of sense . That's their work , not yours .

Speaker 1

Well , and I would say too , if you're in a relationship with someone who's kind of a fixer and you know that , like you , even in a friendship , I would say sacrificial advice , tell them up front . Hey , I just want you to hear me , can you just listen ? Kind of like what you did with the . I just want to share this dream with you . I'm not saying this is what we should do with the house , it's just a dream that it was what I was saying , but I didn't say this otherwise you could just type it into like a little diary or something .

Speaker 3

You want him to hear it because you want it in some way to become a reality .

Speaker 2

So yeah , so what I realized was and this is part of my stuff I can be incredibly direct , and that's when I'm a poor listener . I'm a great listener in my office . I think I'm a great listener as a friend . The closer the relationship is typically my mother and my husband I get really direct . I can be kind of bulldozer and I think that that was hard for Bobby . So I'd be like , well , and I've done this and this . I can't believe . I'm admitting it . He's come home and I'm like , um , there is a builder coming over for to discuss what plans we want for the house , and he's like okie dokie . I made him feel super small , really unsafe . He's very logical , very frugal and in my like , we're going to have a dream house . It really scared him . So it hit me today that I've never just said it of like , what do I want ? And it doesn't really matter today how we get there , but will you just listen to what I want instead of me bulldozing you ?

Speaker 1

Bro , I literally one of the only big toasts that happened at my wedding was from a creative director that worked for me for a long time and he's amazing , he's still a friend . He stood up and gave a toast and said Laura is the type of person that will run right over you , bulldoze you , Thank you , and you will be better for it . And I was like I wanted to throw up . It felt so gross because I was like , oh God , and I what you said about the closer the relationship , so the more trust I feel like is there , the more direct I can be . That doesn't mean that's what they want , Correct . It doesn't even mean that's what they need . It's just what I feel most comfortable doing .

Speaker 1

Clay and Shane get the worst , most direct version of me for sure . Clay will call me and just be like so pumped about an idea and I'll be like , if you don't have this , this , this , this and this done , you're getting screwed . It's not going to work . He just threw a show and I was adamantly opposed . I'm like you , event planning is a career , Clay , you do not event plan . Here's all the reasons you shouldn't do it and you're going to lose your ass . And he , freaking , he was like thank you for your feedback .

Speaker 2

I'm still doing it and he did it . I mean because your fears bulldozed him and so my whatever the reason is , and we don't , it's not important about this whole house thing . I was disconnecting from my spouse in an attempt to connect over and over and over again , and I was so overly vocal about something and I couldn't bring myself to see the discomfort because I was like , why would you be uncomfortable about building my perfect southern living dream home ?

Speaker 2

just write me a check you won't even have to do anything , you know um , and then when I like softened it and was like will you just listen , even if you hate my idea , just zip it . And we did .

Speaker 1

Well , I think what we know is I still have a lot of work to do on listening . I think that's what I learned . Glad you got a takeaway . This feels like a therapy . Is this an intervention for me ? Actually , I came up with this damn subject . What an asshole .

Speaker 2

See your body kept the score and was like I need Claire and Will to sit and listen to me . So , to me , morals of today's story listening and knowing what you need is an incredibly important part of connecting with anyone that you're close to . Understanding what your partner needs and meaning like do they even know what they need ? And if they don't know what they need , that's their work and you can like offer that to them . Um , we can have an overly active throat chakra and we can have an under active throat chakra , and that's for you to go discover . Did something happen to me where I had to overuse my voice , or did I learn to become small ? In what areas ? So all of this is truly going back to ?

Speaker 1

can I sit still and be quiet and know what I need , and some things that you said that I feel like are really important to reiterate is , if you're the person who is like me and you struggle because you really want to fix everything for everyone , that it makes a lot of sense to remember . My feet are on the ground . I'm here in this moment with this person , I'm holding space for them and it's not my job to fix it unless they ask me for help .

Speaker 3

I'm realizing this through this whole episode , that my eyes wander like crazy , because yeah , because normally we're not talking about this during the show , so it's okay that my eyes wander and we're outside , so like neighbors are coming by and there's a fire .

Speaker 1

Will is literally waved at every person . They're wading at me . He is the actual president of this neighborhood .

Speaker 3

Out of like the seven people and even the FedEx guy . I can tell you five of their names , At least that FedEx guy and I talk all the time . What a listener he comes up to the porch and we talk about stuff .

Speaker 1

What a guy porch . And we talk about stuff . What a guy . And also , can we just talk about this nice porch that was built by the one and only ?

Speaker 3

Will Well , I built the furniture and finished it , but yeah .

Speaker 1

I mean , all right , y'all Happy New Year . Thank you for being with us . Hey , thank you guys for listening . We love having you here . We're so happy to be back for season two . Please give us a review , share us with your friends , and if you ever want to reach out and you have a topic you want us to cover or something that you're just wondering about , let us know .

Speaker 3

Before you Cut Bangs is hosted by Claire Fehrman and Laura Quick and produced by me , Will Ockamy the best .