My Riffs

Speaking clarifies what we’re thinking. So does writing. Both are great ways of sorting our thoughts out. The better we get at articulating our thoughts the better we understand ourselves. The better we understand ourselves the more we’re able to shape ourselves. 

Two ears and one mouth. It’s a good ratio for reality. Listen and think twice before you speak. Listen more than you speak. But do both. Holding our ideas and thoughts inside isn’t healthy. We need to speak them and dialogue them with trusted people. It’s that give and take of listening and speaking that’s important in getting the right balance of taking in information and transforming it into ideas and actions. 

What is normalized is usually the lowest common denominator of what the general public will accept. The lowest denominator, not the highest. We normalize things one person at a time by not speaking out. Many bad things are being normalized right now and may be here to stay if people don't start speaking out fast. Use your voice in kindness, but be firm and knowledgable about what you speak of. Darkness quickly gives way to light.

You can either feed or starve a feud. You can either feed or starve a craving. You can either feed or starve a habit. You can either feed or starve a rumour. You can either feed or starve gossip. This list could go on and on.  When we encounter something we can either put energy into it and further it or we can withhold energy and not add to its momentum. It’s important to remember that our words carry consequences. A casual approval may spur a bad behaviour. A quiet response may let something die. 

Listen to learn, write to clarify your thoughts and speak to get feedback on what you’ve learned and clarified.

To speak the truth is one of the greatest powers we have. If not the greatest. Knowing this, we should live a life with the goal of speaking nothing but truth. Truth mixed with love of course.

What if people only judged us by our actions? Here's an interesting thought experiment. Warning: it's sort of political, but also not supposed to be really about politics. I'm not making a political statement or endorsement. What would the detractors of Donald Trump be saying if Trump hadn't uttered a word while in office? What if he was only judged him by his actions thus far? My best guess is, there wouldn't be near the level of hate towards him that there is today. I'm not defending anything, but I am saying there's no doubt the words he's said have exasperated things. The point here is supposed to be, does what you say betray your actions? Our actions are more important than our words, but are we causing confusion or unnecessary issue with our loose words?

Here is one simple thing that many of us don't do, but should... Think before we speak. We often blurt the first thing that comes to out minds. But that isn't always the wisest thing to say. Sometimes the first thing that comes to mind is the most emotional thing, not the best thing. Listen, think, speak. One simple change can make us much better communicators and much wiser. Think before you speak.

Is it holding me peace or holding my piece? I think holding my piece makes more sense. I don’t need to say everything I can say. Or want to say. It’s amazing how often I should hold my piece. The tongue causes more problems than any other part of the body. Maybe we could argue the mind causes problems too. But the tongue would be up there with the mind for causing us problems.

I’ve never seen a quiet person be thought a fool.

There's no need to speak in silence. Learning to be comfortable with silence is an important thing. I'm a HUGE proponent of communication. But communication without silence is just noise. We need time to reflect, and that happens in silence. Even when you're with someone else, don't be afraid of the silence. When you're talking, you're probably not learning or reflecting. So... Being silent is at times just as much or more effective than speaking.