What stops you from listening?

We naturally want to fix something that someone shares with us which is wrong in their life. We often try to give advise and figure out a way to help them solve it. Often this need to fix things overpowers us and stops us from listening. Sometimes the person isn't seeking advise from us and doesn't wish for us to fix things, they just want a shoulder to lean on, someone they can open up to. So I try to take a step back and listen first and offer assistance second.