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When you desire to have a serious discourse with someone, be sure you’re ready to be transparent with him or her. Beating around the metaphorical bush with the person you’re communicating with can cause him or her to distrust you. It can appear to him or her that you have something to hide. If you truly don’t have anything to conceal from the person, then get to the heart of the matter; that is, let the person know what’s truly on your mind. When you’re having an important conversation with an individual and you’re not as forthcoming as possible, one has to wonder if it’s really a conversation or not; it could just be a performance.
No one wants to feel like he or she is banging his or her head against the wall just to get you to offer a smidgen of candor. The reality is many people aren’t prepared to engage in frank discourses with others. One can posit that most relationship problems, including legal separations and divorces, are a result of a failure to have bold communication. Too many people lack the boldness to have the conversations that need to take place.
People will never really know what’s bothering you if you’re not willing to tell them. You will discover that it’s liberating to disclose to people how you’re really feeling.
Although it may not be what you want to hear, you reveal yourself to be a coward when you lack the courage to say what needs to be said. This is why it’s vital to help people to overcome their fears. By helping more people to overcome their fears, there will be a reduction in the number of people who allow the fear to communicate candidly to hinder or sever their various relationships.
Some people are afraid to have bold conversations because they are fearful of confrontation. It’s almost impossible to go through life without experiencing confrontation. Those individuals who aren’t afraid of confrontation and who aren’t afraid to have frank discourses with you are demonstrating maturity. There will be some who will say they just love drama, but the reality is mature people never leave what needs to be said unsaid.
Being bold about what you say does not mean being intentionally hurtful to others. You can speak truthfully to people without being abrasive. Just don’t let the potential of someone getting hurt by your words prevent you from saying what needs to be said, however. Ultimately, the person who receives your candid words will be better off having heard your words.
When a person is honest with you, what he or she says to you may make you angry. Give the person credit for being truthful. Respond to the truth in a mature way. You don’t want people to avoid speaking candidly to you because they know you will react immaturely. The way we receive truth will unveil important revelations about us, even some revelations we may not be ready to receive.
It’s time to get real with the people around you, and it’s time to get real with yourself. Have the essential discourses you need to have today.
Antonio Maurice Daniels
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Revolutionary Paideia 