How to Be a Good Friend to People Battling Anxiety or Stress, According to a Doctor

"Effective communicators are first and foremost effective listeners. Only when we listen to others and try to understand their perspectives, can we make informed choices. Listening has been touted as one of the most essential new-age skills. The turn of the century has brought with it myriad demands and expectations from us, whether they are professional or personal in nature," says clinical psychologist Dr Pankhuri Chandra, an expert at Eat Luv N Pray.

"Effective listening then becomes imperative in order to manipulate this onslaught of opportunities. And listening is not a skill you are born with, it needs to be cultivated and developed. In order to do so, we first need to understand ourselves. Listening begins with us. Effective listeners attend to themselves first before others," says Dr Chandra.

"An effective listener will not only listen to themselves but also be sensitive to how their behaviour affects others. Self-monitoring is a related skill that will facilitate listening. There is also a need to be open to constructive criticism and cultivating a desire to keep working on ourselves," she adds.

Co-founders of Eat Luv N Pray Priyanka Wadhera and Sonia Sood Arora agree with the healing powers of just being a good listener. “Listening makes one feel heard. And being heard is close to being loved actually almost indistinguishable."