Think before you speak and you may avoid a banana slip.
(Anna G.)
Sometimes, we speak before we’ve thought through what we want to say, believing that everyone will understand where we’re coming from. Unthinking words can hurt. Once said out loud, you cannot take it back. When relationships between you and others are fine, you can get away with most things but when they are strained, words can worsen the cracks that will later be difficult to fix.
Once in an interview, the late Statesman of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, was asked about the banned sales of chewing gum in Singapore. He answered very glibly, ” If one can’t think because he can’t chew, get a banana!”
I think it is important that we try not to find excuses for our slips or mistakes. It is very easy to jump on this bandwagon of not taking ownership of your slip-ups. You may get away with one mistake or even two but before you know it, you’ve got yourself caught up in your own web of excuses which will ultimately entrap you in harmful behaviour and caused suspicion of others and fear of being found out.
Destructive habits and attitudes usually start with one small lie or mistake. Don’t be mistaken, it gathers momentum till you lose yourself in it.
Get out of it! Acknowledge the lies, if possible resolve them with those you’ve hurt with your lies or mistakes. If not, just turn back and don’t walk that path again. Choose to walk in truth and freedom. It’s ok. It’s never too late. Or get help. Don’t give up, get out.
Let’s use the Triple Filter Test as suggested by Socrates in the story below.
Words don’t cost us anything, let’s choose to heal with them.
Artist: Lydia C. Text: Anna G.
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”
“Hold on a minute”, Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”
“Triple Filter?”
“That’s right”, Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”
“No”, the man said, “Actually I just heard about it and…” “All right”,said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?”
“No, on the contrary”
“So”, Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left: the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?”
“No, not really.”
“Well”, concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?”.
Author: Unknown
