The most difficult thing to do when we are faced with 
stressful challenges is to listen very carefully. Yet it is a fact that our 
listening skill is our greatest asset for success. 
 
Most people find listening difficult because they think of it 
as a passive state. Careful listening may be a quiet activity, but it is 
certainly not passive. It requires the activation of every sense— our 
ears, of course, but also our eyes, our touch and especially our hearts. 
 
The goal is to first understand, before seeking to be 
understood. 
 
If we are willing to listen fully to what we are hearing, we 
will discover information that will make us more successful. Quite 
often others will give us clues to the response that will be most 
effective. 
 
 
Not only that, but when we listen intently, we will become 
aware of the humor in a situation that might otherwise be overlooked. 
 
This plays right into our commitment to have as much fun as possible 
at all times. 
 
The following exercise, performed daily, will increase the 
sensitivity of all your observational senses:

Exercise #5: 
 
Read the newspaper twice. 
 
The first time read the news, comics and whatever else 
interests you. Then go back through looking for “funny” headlines 
and captions. 
 
Practice focusing just on the choice and positioning of words, 
and nothing more. Suddenly amusing variations will become 
apparent. You can have fun with these variations, which will be 
missed by the majority of those who read them. 
 
To give you an idea of what awaits you, here are a few 
examples of headlines that I have found in my local newspaper: 
 
“JUDGE TOLD TO RULE ON LIFE SUPPORT CASE 
OF MAN ALREADY DEAD” 
 
“KENTUCKY COUPLE CONVICTED OF FRAUD 
FAILS TO APPEAR AT PRISON” 
 
“SUING EMPLOYER CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO 
YOUR CAREER” 
 
“INDIANA PARK FEES MAY RISE—OR FALL” 
 
“TOWN OVERWHELMED BY POLLUTION HOPES 
TO BECOME NATIONAL PARK” 
 
“THIRD TEEN IS CHARGED IN PIZZA STABBING” 
 
“UNWANTED VASECTOMY COULD WRECK 
MARRIAGE”