Good listening is like tuning in a radio station. For good results, you can listen to only one station at a time. Trying to listen to your spouse while looking over an office report is like trying to receive two radio stations at the same time. We end up with distortion and frustration. Listening requires a choice of where we place our attention. To tune into my partner, we must first choose to put away all that will divide our attention. That might mean laying down the newspaper, moving away from the dishes in the sink, putting down the book I'm reading, setting aside any projects.