Have you ever wondered what other people were thinking around you? How was the restaurant? How was the movie? What's this vacation like? What's this particular culture feel like? How's the work environment? What does everyone thing of the new person who started hanging out with our friends?
Sometimes we're in a situation where people feel comfortable being vocal, yet other times people tend to be tighter lipped with their opinions. They can be at first, anyway. With time, as people grow more acclimated with their surroundings, they also grow more comfortable voicing their opinions.
You'll often discover with time that what you thought about that person or client or culture or experience, it is likely that everyone else was thinking the same thing. It just took someone finally speaking up to discover the mutual opinions.
I didn't develop this philosophy on my own. I learned it from someone older and wiser than I, my childhood next-door neighbor. The first time I heard her sentiment that what you are thinking, generally everyone else is too, I thought, "That's cute, but doesn't have much salt to it." Then with time and experience, I saw the observation prove true time and time again.
Having this awareness of the often-common perception around me, I find the courage and confidence to speak up more than I used to. The more I speak up in love and kindness, the more I see truth being set free.
I'm not talking about gossiping or slander or anything of the like. The common opinion can be good and full of love as often as it can be an opinion of warning or distaste. People tend to be pretty vocal about their complaints, and it's an easy habit to fall into.
For that reason, I often make and effort to speak up every positive thing I'm seeing and thinking. As my dear Anne of Green Gables would say, I try not to throw away a compliment. Why let the good thoughts go silent.
Speak the truth and focus on the positive because you can!
Comments