Exit the Chat

Exit the Chat

No doubt about it–there’s a gossip in everyone’s life. It may be a friend, a co-worker, or a total stranger. Regardless, it’s the person who shares any amount of information about another, either about what they have accomplished, good or bad, but especially the bad. Sometimes it’s a downright lie.

Why does a gossip perform his or her service so readily? They feel it makes them look really good to have such valuable information about others–it may even make them feel powerful.

Gossip can also be extremely hurtful. Whether true or not, why wallow in others’ misery? Just because someone has bad behavior doesn’t mean they’re proud of it. We can’t see what’s on the inside, no matter what we are seeing outside.

The next time someone starts in on some damaging details about another, just say something positive about the person, change the subject, or simply say that you find the subject uncomfortable and would rather talk about something else. While it may not stop it completely, because there will always be a gossip in the group, it will at least keep it away from you.

You alone cannot control gossip nor the gossiper, but you can control the way you react to it. Steer clear of it, speak kindly of others, and very likely, others will notice and never believe anything the gossiper says about you!