TIP 74Listen more, talk less “It is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. » ~ Author unknown It's an old Arabic proverb that says: "The more intelligent you become, the less you speak." » Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives free rein to his mind, but a wise man restrains him quietly. » Proverbs 17:28 says, “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered intelligent. » Have you ever been in a group of people and there's that one person who just won't shut up? You know who I'm talking about. He has an opinion on everything and is eloquent on every possible subject. Doesn’t that drive you crazy? Oh, you can't think of someone like that when you go out with your friends? Hmmm…so maybe you are “that person”. Look, there's nothing wrong with being a gregarious person, and it's also not bad to be talkative and conversational. Trust me, introverts like me rely on you to fill life's awkward silences. But are you absolutely sure you listen when people talk to you? If you find yourself dominating conversations, almost as if you're holding court like a celebrity, it may be time to think about dialing back your output and focusing. more on the entrance. Become an active listener The next time you're in a conversation or spending time in a group, challenge yourself by asking yourself, "Can I remember the last thing that everyone around me said?" , I don't expect you to? know it verbatim, and I'm also not asking you to remember what the introvert in the group said ten minutes ago. Just make sure you're grasped and focused enough on the people around you to be actively aware of their contributions to the conversation. .Re...... middle of paper ......life who do you need to have a difficult conversation with? Maybe you need to confront someone about a thorny issue, step, or intervention, or maybe even apologize for wronging them in the past. Take inspiration from my pastor for what he does when he needs to face difficult situations and have difficult conversations: he invites them over for tea (or coffee). We are not talking about just asking someone to meet you at a cafe or restaurant somewhere, but rather inviting them to the office or home and making tea or coffee as well as a light snack like coffee cake, chocolate or something else. another person likes. When you take the time to prepare food for the other person, it defuses a lot of the tension inherent in the present moment. Serving the other person makes you empathetic and kind, while being served makes them feel welcomed in return..