One who withholds his words has knowledge, And one who has a cool spirit is a person of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Proverbs 17:27-28
The best way to defuse a conflict is by asking a question.
Responding with statements when under fire throws fuel on the fire, whereas the right question can neutralize and redirect the emotion of the moment.
Have you ever said something you wish you had not said? A lot of times, we respond hastily with words we know we would not have said if we had thought them through before speaking. The words we speak don’t always represent our position but only how we feel in the moment. They may be a first response, but that doesn’t mean they are the right response. As a safeguard to ensure you mean what you say and say what you mean, practice the two-second rule. The next time you are in conversation and it is your turn to speak, take two seconds for a long breath to consider what an appropriate response should be. If you make the two-second rule a habit, you will rarely regret what you say.
REFLECT TO CONNECT
- Whom do you know that does a good job of “thinking before speaking”?
- How will practicing the two-second rule help you in your communication?
- Can you describe how you go about reading a situation before speaking into it?
It is in the “pause” between thinking and speaking that you make room to hear what God has to say.
