Basic communication courses talk about the role filters play in our conversations.  Originally a filter was something that removed impurities from liquids.  Over time the word has evolved to mean everything from cigarette filters to camera filters.

In conversations we can be unaware that our filters might be removing the purities along with the impurities.  Our biases may make it difficult for us to hear the truth. The way we feel about someone, the way they are dressed, our fatigue, the people we are with, etc. all play into how we receive what someone is saying to us.

How are you filtering your conversations?  You might be surprised at what your missing.