"if you judge people, you have no time to love them."
- Mother Theresa
how gossip destroys relationships
The negative effects of
rumors and harmful judgments surround us in our lives every day. Did you know
48% of people who hear gossip about someone form a new, negative opinion about
that person? Even if the words aren’t true, the damage is already done.
Gossip can put our close
personal relationships in peril. It manipulates people into taking sides, even
when choosing a side is unnecessary. It casts a dark shadow
across the person gossiping, the person listening, and the person being talked
about. No one emerges a winner. Everyone loses.
And a relationship isn’t
the only thing gossip is capable of harming.
gossip affects our physical health
Sadness and anxiety can manifest itself in physical reactions. Some can hit the body
more quickly than unhealthy habits such as smoking, eating poorly or lack of exercise.
Gossiping about other
people, or judging them, can be physically draining for all involved. Whether you’re the one talking about another person, the one listening, or
the victim, gossip is detrimental to us all.
However, when we refrain from gossip and judgments, we feel better about ourselves and lend to the well-being of others, as well.. We contribute not just to our own health, but to a greater good.
The healing power of kindness
Our speech habits are shaping our world and the kind of life we are living. Different actions bring different results: acts of gossip and judging others bring conflict and division; Loyalty, kind words, and compassion bring healing and unity.
Henry James said it best... "Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; the third is to be kind."
It's time to tap into the best version of ourselves. It's not just about how damaging gossip can be, it's about the positive change our mindfulness and kindness can create.