Thinking Before We Speak

Thinking Before We Speak


I have pondered for several years what I wanted to do with my life. I have explored different paths that I could allow myself to go down. I find myself, today, realizing that with every interest I've had and every passion that's consumed me, one thing remains clear; my need to make a difference.


Today I listened to the conversations around me. Many consisted of horrible topics and very few, I found, to be uplifting. These voices around me spoke of others and included myself. They were not kind words. I found myself wondering if people cared for others anymore. Have we, the human race as a whole, become as hateful as the words around me would seem? Is it possible no one thinks before speaking anymore?
Is it feasible that if we took a moment to think before we spoke we'd realize the person we're speaking of may have feelings, may already be hurting, could be the way they are for reasons we could never begin to imagine? Perhaps that person is already very fragile or perhaps, God forbid, they are right around the corner about to hear each awful word we vomit about them? If we paused and asked ourselves these questions would we then withdraw our judgmental statements we were about to speak?
Sometimes the heat of the moment hits us and we speak the vicious thoughts we think. Sometimes it's overheard and sometimes no one is around to hear us. But, even worse, sometimes a human being is hurt. I would hate to think that you all would dare hurt another, or that another would dare hurt any of you. We are all guilty of being mean at one time or another. Maybe, just maybe, next time we think of judging someone we should pause for a moment and ask ourselves what is gained by it. Why should we place ourselves on a pedestal when we are no better than anyone else? Who gave us the right to judge another human being that feels what we feel and struggles with the same struggles we do? Some people, believe it or not, feel a pain like nothing we could ever know and struggle in a way that would only kill us that have never experienced it. So, again I ask, why be mean? What is it that we gain?


As I mentioned, I've realized my need to make a difference. If I cause just one of you to pause for a moment before you say something about another or even not say anything at all, I've made a small difference. I am by no means innocent of these “crimes”, but maybe by writing this, I missed an opportunity to hurt another persons feelings. And maybe, by asking you to read this, I stopped you from hurting someone else.....

That too made a difference.

-Mysty Rayn


"Before you speak, ask yourself, is it kind, is it necessary, is it true, does it improve the silence?" -Sai Baba

Reviews

[Dani California]

Mysty - wow!

This is so great! So often we speak negatively, I have really paid attention to this very thing myself lately, and am guilty as well. It seems negative conversation rolls so simply off of our tongues and too often we don't think before the words spill out... many times hurting other(s). Sometimes, we know exactly what we are doing, yet do it anyway. It's really very sad what we've become..... or perhaps, always have been. We seem to be attracted to the negative -- oddly so. For instance, the news. If it spoke of all good things, we likely wouldn't watch it. I don't watch much television, particulary the news, for that very reason. Some, really don't care about the hurt they are inflicting on others....sadly so. Some aren't aware of it, and others feel they've been wronged, so it's ok to return the favor. Such a vicious cycle. There are so many "reasons" we find to impose our negative thoughts on the world, hence the state of humanity. Yes, we should stop and think about what we say before we say it!! And also consider its potential consequences... to ourselves and others.

This is such an inspiring and awesome "stop and listen" piece! Definitely at the top of my list as its message is not only outstanding, but worthy of reading regularly and embracing daily! Thank you!

[LadyLove]

This is a very important subject. And yes, you are right, we need to not say things without thinking how they hurt another. But so many people have mouths that drip venom nomatter what you tell them...and that they do it purposely is sad. I guess the gain is a sense of power over the object of their derision; or just plain trying to raise a sense of self importance. I've learned that silence is truly a conversation's best friend; To speak when a good thought is there and just listen, and curb the hurtful words that wish to surface before they slip past our lips into the air; Not so easy to do for many, but practice makes perfect...almost! A quote for leaving this with--To deliberately criticise another individual may leave an indelible stain on the critic---Sri chinmoy. I agree with you; Gotta watch how you speak of others...and to them. Blessings to you!

[Justin Tobey]

I find this piece to be profoundly true. We're all guilty of these crimes, and at some point you have to find the balance between expressing your feelings and just plain gossiping. Sometimes you need to talk about how a person has hurt you to help move on, but where do you cross the line into retaliation using hurtful words? I'm constantly in an environment where people are hurting others, and this piece really helped me realize how I can avoid that and make myself feel better without hurting others, even if they've hurt me. Thank you for sharing this amazing piece. This one's definitely going in my favorites! :D I'm so glad that Dani told me about this one!!!

Blessed Be!

[soulsearching]

we all try to turn off our minds so not to rock the boat, but at some point we all have to let it out and say wtf and let them have it.