Have we earned the right to criticize?
When we see someone doing something that seems wrong to us, we often feel the urge to criticize and correct them. We may feel we [...]
Wrong to say others are wrong?
We live in a world where people have varying viewpoints, some that seem acceptable to us and some that seem utterly unacceptable or even unconscionable [...]
Light is usually seen before warmth is felt but spiritual warmth frequently needs to be felt before spiritual light is seen
If we are lost in the dark and cold, we can spot the light of a fire long before we feel its warmth. In the [...]
We don’t owe our friends a positive response, but we do owe them a sensitive response
We don’t owe our friends a positive response but we do owe them a sensitive response Suppose we try something creative for the first time [...]
Speak in a way that educates and engages not enrages and estranges
Speak in a way that educates and engages not enrages and estranges Suppose we have some knowledge that will be helpful or valuable for others. [...]
To speak effectively learn to let go of what you think you are speaking and hear what others are hearing
To speak effectively learn to let go of what you think you are speaking and hear what others are hearing While communicating with others, we [...]
Our tongue is like a loaded gun that we always carry within us
Our tongue is like a loaded gun that we always carry within us Suppose we have a powerful, loaded gun. We would be extremely careful [...]
Don’t forget to compliment those who complement you
Don't forget to compliment those who complement you We all have painful inadequacies that make us dependent on others who complement us. Indeed, almost all [...]
Opening the mouth without opening the mind helps neither the mouth nor the mind
Opening the mouth without opening the mind helps neither the mouth nor the mind We all have had to sometimes bite our words. On seeing [...]
Words are not just vehicles of thought but also engines of thought
Words are not just vehicles of thought but also engines of thought We often think of words as tools for expressing our thoughts. When we [...]
To speak effectively, speak not just correctly, but also appropriately
To speak effectively speak not just correctly but also appropriately When a doctor prescribes a medicine to a patient, they consider not just the patient’s [...]
Unthinking words reflect an uncaring heart
Our words are like a mirror that give others peeks into our hearts. If the mirror is unclean, it distorts whatever it reflects. Similarly, if [...]
Anesthesia is meant to help heal sickness, not hide it
Suppose a surgeon is operating on a patient. Naturally, the surgeon needs to give anesthesia so that the patient’s pain while being operated is minimized. [...]
Watch what you talk when you talk to yourself
When we are talking, especially in an important meeting, we watch what we talk, lest we speak inappropriately. Just as we watch what we talk [...]
Speak to give people peace of mind, not a piece of your mind
When people do something infuriating, we feel like giving them a piece of our mind, blasting them for being irresponsible, insensitive, intractable or whatever else. [...]
Focus not on the harsh truth, but on the gentle healing
Whenever surgeons operate, they try to minimize the distress caused by the surgery. Physically, they administer pain medicine. And emotionally, they solace the patient by [...]
Speak because you have something to say, not because you have to say something
When we socialize with someone unfamiliar, we may struggle to find things to speak. Such conversations are usually stilted and inane. When they end, both [...]
To learn to speak well, learn when not to speak
Some of us may lament that we are not fluent in speaking. By training and practice, we all can improve our speaking ability. Even if [...]
To use the truth for beating people on the head is to abuse the truth
When we understand that the Bhagavad-gita contains timeless truths meant for everyone, we may feel impelled to convince those around us about these truths. Such [...]
Don’t just tell it like it is – tell it like it can be
People who speak candidly often say, “I just tell it like it is.” In an increasingly spin-doctored world, hearing the truth spoken unvarnished can be [...]
Don’t just talk about the other – talk with the other
The other refers to any person whom we consider as distant from, even hostile to, us. Talking about the other means talking with various people [...]