Talk is Cheap?

A lot of people say talk is cheap, but it doesn’t have to be. What we say binds us to our character and reputation – if we’re flimsy with our words, then we’re going to come off as a flake or someone that others can’t rely upon. If we’re strong and we do what we say we’ll do, then others will trust us by our consistency - even if they don’t agree with what we say 100% of the time.

No one wants to be that guy everyone has to take your word with a grain of salt. This also includes sticking with commitments. If we make plans with someone, and something better comes along, like a hot date - then tough luck. No one likes being ditched and you can guarantee they’ll remember it.

When we make the mistake of thinking that we can cut corners, and no one will notice, we’d also wrong. Being faulty in just one aspect affects us as a whole. Our energy, guilt, and mindset have all been altered. You know those people that seem to go through life effortlessly and seem genuinely happy? Those are the kind of people who don’t stray from what they do or say. It isn’t that they don’t experience problems and trouble – that definitely comes to all of us. Those people make a commitment to their happiness by respecting others and themselves.

Gossip is the worst, and we’re all likely guilty of it. Fresh juicy gossip is hard to resist for many – not just middle-aged women with nothing to do. Sometimes we yearn to hear gossip because we want our suspicions confirmed, or perhaps we don’t want to be left out of what everyone else knows. However, hearsay is the worst way to get information, especially when it comes with half-truths - important parts missing from second-hand listeners is bound to get messed up and reinterpreted.

Reputation is flimsy, but important to maintain if possible. Character, however goes much deeper since it’s internal over external. When you trust and believe in yourself, your character is built, even if your reputation is tarnished. That’s what takes true courage – choosing to stand for something you believe in when everyone else says you’re wrong.

When we talk, we’d better be prepared to follow through. Everyone takes what people say at face value until the inconsistencies show up. Inconsistencies break one’s own reputation and it’s becomes more difficult to respect ourselves if we lie and cut corners for convenience and short-term gains. What’s the best, most simple way to go – talk and be true.

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