Returning to the topic of preparation for prayer, the Sages taught in the Tosefta: One who prays must focus his heart toward Heaven. Abba Shaul says: An indication of the importance of this matter is stated in the verse: “The desire of the humble You have heard, Lord; direct their hearts, Your ear will listen” (Psalms 10:17). In other words, if one focuses his heart in prayer as a result of God directing his heart, his prayer will be accepted as God’s ear will listen.
(9) They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he replied, “There, in the tent.” (10) Then one said, “I will return to you next year, and your wife Sarah shall have a son!” Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind him. (11) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years; Sarah had stopped having the periods of women. (12) And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “Now that I am withered, am I to have enjoyment—with my husband so old?” (13) Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I in truth bear a child, old as I am?’ (14) Is anything too wondrous for the LORD? I will return to you at the same season next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” (15) Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was frightened. But He replied, “You did laugh.”
The most important part of communication is to be a good listener — to practice what's called "Authentic Listening."
Authentic Listening involves three basic steps, which need to follow one after the other; you cannot jump to the next step until you've completely fulfilled the previous step. The three steps are:
a) Listening attentively to what the other person is saying without interrupting them.
b) Feeding back your understanding of what they are saying and feeling
c) Checking with the other person to confirm that you have understood them correctly.
The listening must be genuine. Eye contact, feedback and acknowledgement are essential aspects, but these will not work if they are used only as gimmicks to pretend that you are listening when in truth you can't wait for the person to stop talking so that you could have your say. Authentic listening occurs when we are honestly prepared to put aside our own story and fully focus on understanding the other person's story. Using the right methods without the right intentions will not convey to the other person that they are worthy enough in your eyes to be heard and understood.
Authentic listening also means being prepared not to judge the other person for having certain feelings. Statements like, "Why are you so angry?" or, "Why are you so upset about such a little thing?" convey the message that the other person is foolish for having such feelings. This will in turn give him or her one more reason to be upset with you rather than focusing on resolving the problem.
Responses like, "I can see you are very upset by what has happened," or, "I didn't realize how hurt you are," or "If I were in your position, I would most probably feel the same," will convey to the other person that he is entitled to feel the way he does. Whether or not you agree that these feelings are justified is besides the point; the important thing is that you understand and accept that your partner feels this way.
---Yaakov Lieder
He emerged into the atmosphere of the world, his second world, looked upon the stars and constellations and said a song of praise of God for the entirety of creation, as it is stated: “Bless the Lord, His angels, mighty in strength, that fulfill His word, listening to the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His servants, that do His will. Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His kingship, bless my soul, Lord” (Psalms 103:20–23). David saw the grandeur of all creation and recognized that they are mere servants, carrying out the will of their Creator (Ma’ayan HaBerakhot).
(יז) שִׁמְעוֹן בְּנוֹ אוֹמֵר, כָּל יָמַי גָּדַלְתִּי בֵין הַחֲכָמִים, וְלֹא מָצָאתִי לַגּוּף טוֹב אֶלָּא שְׁתִיקָה. וְלֹא הַמִּדְרָשׁ הוּא הָעִקָּר, אֶלָּא הַמַּעֲשֶׂה. וְכָל הַמַּרְבֶּה דְבָרִים, מֵבִיא חֵטְא:
(17) Shimon, his son, used to say: all my days I grew up among the sages, and I have found nothing better for a person than silence. Study is not the most important thing, but actions; whoever indulges in too many words brings about sin.
Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch often spent hours receiving visitors in private. During this time he would perspire profusely and on occasion even excused himself in the middle of an interview to change his garments. When asked for the reason he explained, "When I receive a visitor I am wearing my own 'garments.' But to understand his comments from his perspective I must remove my garments and don his. At this point I must consider the problem from my own perspective and for that I must don my own garments. Having developed a suitable response I must dress my advice in words suitable to my visitor's ears, and for that I must once again don his garments. Knowing this, are you surprised that I perspire?" Such is the art of listening. --Lazer Gurkow
(ו) וכן מה שאמרו (ב''ב כא ב), שחיב הצבור שבכל מקום ומקום להושיב מלמדי תינוקות ועיר שאין בה תינוקות של בית רבן תחרב, ועשרים וחמשה תינוקות מושיבין אצל מלמד אחד. ומה שאמרו (אבות פ''ב מ''ד), שלא יאמר אדם לכשאפנה אשנה שמא לא יפנה לעולם, כי לא ידע האדם מה ילד יום. שעסקו של עולם מתחדש יום יום, ומדיח את האדם מדבר לדבר ומטרדה לטרדה, ונמצאו כל ימיו יוצאין בבהלה, אם לא יתן פנאי על כל פנים וידחק עצמו לעסקה של תורה, וכל שעושה כן וחפץ בברכה, מן השמים מסיעין אותו ומקילין מעליו טרדות העולם המבהילות, ומעבירין ממנו עלן של בריות, ושוכן בשמחה כל ימיו בעולם הזה, וטוב לו לעולם הבא, ואשרי המדבר לאזן שומעת. ויתר פרטיה, מבארים בקדושין פרק ראשון ובמקומות מפזדים בתלמוד [יו''ד סימן רמו].
(6) And so [too,] that which they said (Bava Batra 21b) that the community in each and every place is obligated to set up teachers of infants, that a city that does not have infants of the house of their teacher will be destroyed and that [up to] twenty-five infants are set up with one teacher. And [also] that which they said (Avot 2:4) that a person not say, "When I will be available I will study [Torah]," lest he never become available - as a person does not know what a day will bring. As one's involvement in the world renews itself each day and pushes a man from one thing to another and from one bother to another; and [so] it will come out that all of his days will pass in bewilderment if he does not make himself available regardless and push himself to involvement [with] Torah [study]. But anyone who does this and desires blessing will be helped from the Heavens and the bewildering bothers of the world will be lightened from upon him, and the yoke of [other] creatures will be removed from upon him. And [so] he will dwell happily in this world all of his days, and it will be good for him in the world to come. And happy is the one who speaks to a listening ear. [These] and the rest of its details are elucidated in Kiddushin in the first chapter and in dispersed places in the Talmud (see Tur, Yoreh Deah 246).