The famous saying has triggered a phenomenon where just about everyone is familiar with the Verizon guy. But how often do we truly feel we're not being heard?

In almost every presentation I deliver, I incorporate a block on active listening because I believe that it is an art form that is disappearing in both homes and in the workplace. Speaking from experience, I know there are times when I have tried to share something that I thought was valuable with someone who I knew wasn't listening. Because I felt it was soooo important, I continued, only to be frustrated in the process. Worse yet is being involved in a "conversation" where the person you're speaking with chooses only to hear what they want to hear or isn't mentally present for the conversation.

These situations have an uncomfortableness about them. The upside thinker in me recognizes that sometimes I need to walk away. Walking away isn't giving up on what I believe in. Walking away is about understanding that we are all in a different place in life. Sometimes the message I carry isn't one that everyone is comfortable, ready, or willing to hear.

It's taken me a long time to remember that it's important to love people for who they are and not who you want them to be. That is part of the joy of living on the upside!