"Why do people talk less as they grow older?"
Some people say:
"Because they've suffered from speaking too much." When they
were young, they were less guarded and tended to share everything about
themselves.
But as they grow older, they realize:
The more they speak, the more mistakes they make.
It's better not to speak.
Others say:
"Because the more they know, the more cautious they become in speaking."
When they were young, they loved to argue and persuade others.
But as they grow older, they realize they know too little and dare not
speak much for fear of revealing their ignorance.
"A full bottle makes no sound, but a half bottle makes a
noise."
Don't talk about your private affairs to outsiders.
I once heard a story that made me sigh.
A friend's company hired a new colleague named C, and my friend worked
with her a few times.
She seemed capable, and her personality was quite gentle.
But C didn't last long before suddenly resigning.
"Recently, there have been rumors flying around the company about
her, maybe she couldn't take it anymore."
And these rumors, surprisingly, originated from C herself.
Shortly after joining the company, she got along well with colleague A
and confided her personal life to her:
She had been divorced before and was now remarried to a man 15 years
older than her.
She didn't mean any harm, but listener A told others.
Perhaps her intention was just to gossip, without malice.
But as rumors go, they become more exaggerated.
"At such a young age, marrying an older man, she must be after his
money."
"Maybe she divorced her ex-husband just for this older man."
The gossip became nastier and nastier.
Over time, not only did her colleagues gossip about C behind her back,
but even the boss heard about it.
They even began to doubt her competence at work.
"C probably didn't know what she did wrong until she
resigned."
Similar stories are not uncommon in our lives.
A netizen said:
"Sometimes when I feel wronged, I can't help but confide in
someone, but immediately regret it.
It's like handing someone a weapon against yourself, burying a landmine
for yourself."
Others say:
"Most of the time, by the time I realize I should keep quiet, I've
already said it."
I once heard a saying:
You tell a secret to the wind, and it spreads throughout the forest.
Indeed, prevention is better than cure!
If you're also confused about what you can and cannot say,
here's a tip from me:
Whether it's about our family background, savings, marital status,
children's development, family conflicts, health, career plans, etc., anything
related to privacy or interests is best left unsaid.
Regardless of whether it's good or bad.
If you say you're doing well, financially secure, it's easy to provoke
jealousy;
If you say you're doing poorly, you'll inevitably be looked down upon.
It's human nature to praise the higher and disparage the lower.
A netizen once said:
"There are many things I don't like about my parents.
But I would never say anything negative about them in front of others.
If others look down on my family, they will naturally look down on me
too."
Trust is too precious to be given to just anyone.
If you're still unsure, remember this:
Don't say anything you're not sure you should say.
Shallow exchanges are the most taboo.
Don't casually criticize others.
Shutting up is not only a matter of cultivation but also kindness.
Besides not judging others' lives at will,
there's another thing you absolutely shouldn't say:
Other people's rights and wrongs.
Regardless of whether it concerns you.
Before, there was an intern at our company who was obedient and clever.
But her supervisor had a fiery temper.
Whenever the intern didn't do her job well, she would give her a good
scolding without mercy.
Once, when the company had dinner together,
Everyone comforted the intern, saying her supervisor had a bad temper,
and she shouldn't take it to heart.
Even though the supervisor wasn't present at the time, the girl didn't
show any dissatisfaction, just saying:
"I do have many shortcomings, so the supervisor criticizes
me."
This sentence greatly increased everyone's favorability towards the
girl.
They felt she was humble and could endure.
So shortly after, they helped her secure better job opportunities, and
her salary doubled.
Speaking, perhaps, requires ability; but not speaking requires even more
wisdom.
Keeping your mouth shut is not just a matter of refinement but also a
form of kindness.
Often, people have different opinions simply because their standpoints
are different.
It's not about right or wrong.
Do you really need to argue to win?
It's unnecessary.
We all have different perceptions.
Perceptions are influenced by our complex life experiences.
People can only believe what they've seen and experienced.
Upon careful consideration, when we insist on winning the argument,
there's often an underlying message:
"I want to prove that I'm better than you."
But because the other party is "unrepentant," we can never
"win," and this frustrates us.
Why bother?
To save face for a moment, we waste a lot of time and emotions.
Read Also:
Golden Years Prep: Three Essentials for Happiness
Listen: Podcast