Silence is golden.  We hear that all the time, we teach it to our chatty children and many men across the globe would love to scream this to the women they love, when it is convenient for them!  The truth is, silence is golden, but it is also deadly.

I’m a person always seeking balance in my life.  I am generally disgusted by people who live on the extremes of life. In my opinion and experience, extremes get old, give out and in most cases are unrealistic at best.  No one can be perfect or perform a function perfectly each time and anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a delusional state of being.  At some point, one will be tempted to do something or enjoy the pleasure of a food, indulge in one’s favorite dessert or be selfish enough to do something just for him or her; extremes of life eliminate one’s ability to be an individual as well as maintain a sense of normalcy.

Silence is a powerful tool, a mighty weapon of force.  Its ability to go unnoticed provides a shield or eliminate of surprise and people never really see it coming.  All of a sudden, people miss a voice that they once depended on for so much.  I remember, a former co-worker who did me wrong.  She was angry at me for telling her the truth. She sold me out for a .50 raise and instead of performing one position lousy; she began to perform two positions lousy, again all for .50 an hour.  I was very angry with her because I had poured so much into her, I bought her lunch often, gave advice, listened to her problems and although I was bought on or into the company to replace her, I saved her job!  So it was extremely ironic that she was willing to cost me, my job!  I removed her from my social media.  I do a “Moment of Meditation” daily and she loved those.  I removed her.  I never said anything else to her, never called or even attempted to tell her she was wrong.   That was in August of 2012, by November of 2012, I received a call.  I answered immediately although I had no clue of who it was and it was her.  In those few short months, she had hit some real lows, sleeping in her car, being mistreated at work and finally being replaced by people she trained.  Before she told me any of that story, the first words, she spoke was, please put me back on your list!  I don’t get your emails anymore and unblock me from your social media.  Silence!

As powerful as silence is, there too must be balance!  Have you ever met someone unable to stand up or speak up for his or herself?  I’m so outspoken that meeting people like that is shocking and frightening.  Silence begins to lose its power for good when one is unable or unwilling to communicate or speak up on their behalf or for the good of others.  It’s a poor dog that will not bark in his own yard.  When a person does not have the wherewithal to speak on his or her behalf then silence has shifted from golden to deadly.

Our mouth is a powerful weapon, words build and words kill, words speak life and have long-term effects on people, places and things.  Words shape the way we view someone or some people, if you don’t believe, ask the media?!  Words describe the way a person thinks.  People will tell you everything you need to know about his or herself by the word choices or their ability to articulate their thoughts and ideas to you.  Words are living thoughts, concepts, ideas, and mindsets that must be used responsibly and soberly.

You must speak:

• Up about and against injustices
• Up and for yourself at home, at work and in the public
• Use your voice for good
• Speak to build yourself, your children, your spouse
• Up and clear about who you are, what you believe
• Up and clear about your boundaries and limits

Silence is powerful and Silence is deadly; silence is a weapon and it must be used effectively to slay the enemy and not kill the warrior carrying the weapon.

Learn when to be silent and know when to speak and when it is time to speak, SPEAK LOUDLY, BOLDLY WITH CONFIDENCE.  The danger of silence lies in watching someone die and that someone could be and is most likely you.