"Speak your mind, but be kind."
Truism, author unknown.
Today's Thursday Thoughts turn to the topic of 'life'. I am not sure why this one grabbed me today, but it did. It is on a yellow sticky note attached to my computer and I glance at it each and every day, reminding myself to be assertive yet kind.
I think many of us are hardwired or trained to restrain ourselves from saying what we think - whether as women we are socialised to be peacemakers and to not rock the boat; or generally speaking we may be shy or unsure of ourselves in certain situations. Or perhaps we don't have much experience in voicing opinions and being heard.
Despite my feminist strength of character, I am oftentimes left not knowing how to say what I need to say. Sadly when it does come out, it can sometimes sound a bit shouty, angry, het up, furious or some other form of less than pleasant rage.
And so I remind myself that I can say what I need to say, but I can also be aware of the other person or people. I can speak my mind AND be kind.
Somehow these simple words give me permission to say what I need to say, in a manner in which I would like to hear it if it was said to me.
Weird how the simple ones can end up dealing with great complexity!
A photo my dad sent me from Scotland when our daffodils were blooming there...it speaks of kindness to me...
Truism, author unknown.
Today's Thursday Thoughts turn to the topic of 'life'. I am not sure why this one grabbed me today, but it did. It is on a yellow sticky note attached to my computer and I glance at it each and every day, reminding myself to be assertive yet kind.
I think many of us are hardwired or trained to restrain ourselves from saying what we think - whether as women we are socialised to be peacemakers and to not rock the boat; or generally speaking we may be shy or unsure of ourselves in certain situations. Or perhaps we don't have much experience in voicing opinions and being heard.
Despite my feminist strength of character, I am oftentimes left not knowing how to say what I need to say. Sadly when it does come out, it can sometimes sound a bit shouty, angry, het up, furious or some other form of less than pleasant rage.
And so I remind myself that I can say what I need to say, but I can also be aware of the other person or people. I can speak my mind AND be kind.
Somehow these simple words give me permission to say what I need to say, in a manner in which I would like to hear it if it was said to me.
Weird how the simple ones can end up dealing with great complexity!
A photo my dad sent me from Scotland when our daffodils were blooming there...it speaks of kindness to me...
be kind ... how much could be accomplished in the world under the banner of those two simple words
ReplyDeleteIt is such a good reminder for me Liz - Kindness. If that is the framework from which we operate, we do so many things differently...
Delete