Sharing one's experience that is relative to what another is saying is absolutely the optimal way in which to show your listening.... it is a response to what is called reflective listening.... though slightly different. Reflective listening is you respond to what a person says in a brief way of what they said, so they understand you are listening. To share your experience which is similar / same as what you read, is a way of responding that you listened because your response reflects what they are saying of their experience. To learn is to share experience, ways and methods that work for another may help someone else. They may not, but they just may work for another. Experience is the greatest thing you could ever share with another here....