Why Do You Speak?

Obviously we speak to communicate. But if you start to think about it, communication is often NOT the reason we speak.

It is an interesting exercise to consider all the reasons we speak. Upon consideration, I think we often speak for the wrong reasons. For example:

- We often speak to share our opinion, but not hear anyone else's.
- We often speak to cater to what the listener wants to hear.
- We often speak because we are uncomfortable with quiet/silence.
- We often speak to try and show we are smart, or smarter than someone else.
- We often speak to be seen/heard.
- We often speak to criticize and say something negative or even hurtful.
- We often speak to cause controversy, or "stir the pot".
- We often speak to feel part of the group whether we truly agree or not.

So speaking often is not used for pure communication, but rather for posturing or other reasons.

What if we were much more intentional with our words, and simply thought before we spoke, and if we listened more than we spoke?

Speaking, communicating and having conversations is essential and super super important. It would just make for more valuable communication if we thought "why" we are saying what we are saying, before saying it. And if we actually paused to listen and consider what others are saying before replying.