Speak Your Mind

The Key to True Peace

Photo by Marisa Howenstine on Unsplash

T he word “peace” has been embedded into our minds since we were

very little, either it’s been taught by our parents, or other adults that
have become somewhat of a mentor to us in the past. Furthermore, it is
not rare for us to be taught that we should not speak anything if we
don’t have anything nice to say because it can hurt other
people’s feelings and we must always try to keep the peace
that way. However, is it really the right way?
Personal Peace

Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash

Now, there is some truth to the matter that we must strive for
peace. However, there is a missing puzzle on that definition of
“peace”, and that is we must be at peace as well. Personal peace
is a condition where we do not allow resentment to exist in our
conscious realm because if you are resentful towards something,
either you are too immature in the face of a conflict and need
to grow the hell up, or you have something that you have to
say in your mind and need to straighten things up.

“Either the resentful person is immature, in which case he

or she should shut up, quit whining, and get on with it, or there
is tyranny afoot — in which case the person subjugated
has a moral obligation to speak up.”
- Jordan Peterson, 12 Rules for Life

Photo by M.T ElGassier on Unsplash

The common misconception about “speaking our mind” is

that we often disguise the act of not speaking up as a moral
virtue where we keep the so-called “peace” by shouldering the burden
and resentment towards ourselves because we don’t speak it
out, we’re just voluntarily being harmless. This is destructive by
nature because resentment will make us bitter and being harmless will
make us unable to face problems which enables us to become
a subject to tyranny, a self-welcomed one that is.
“If you’re harmless you’re not virtuous, you’re just
harmless, you’re like a rabbit; a rabbit isn’t virtuous, it just
can’t do anything except get eaten! That’s not virtuous. If you’re
a monster, and you don’t act monstrously, then you’re
virtuous.”
- Jordan Peterson, 12 Rules for Life

The Art of Speaking One’s Mind

Okay, so now weknow that it is necessary to always speak our mind,

but how can we speak our mind? How can we know that it is
the right time to speak? better yet, what words should we use
to speak up? because we know that it is sometimes very hard to do
and will potentially lead to a confllict, it is a problem in and on itself.

Photo by Melany Rochester on Unsplash

 1. Always Listen first
Sometimes, what kind of information people will tell us when
we listen carefully can be quite surprising. Active listening is a
remarkable skill to have in order to “speak your mind” as it
will position yourself in a way where you will understand the
context a little bit more, whilst also ensuring the other party
will try to listen and understand to what you have to say
because of your previous action of understanding them.

2. Ask yourself Questions

Ask yourself, is there anything that you don’t agree with? that
you find unfair, unjust, or just downright authoritarian?
These questions may guide you to ensure that whether or not
you have any resentment towards the decisions that will be
acted later on.

3. Pick your words carefully and think of the output

If you do decide that you must speak your mind, think of the
end goal by asking yourself what is it that you want to fulfill?
is it that you want a more just and fair treatment? Is there
certain unmet need of yours that needs to be addressed?

4. Be brave voluntarily
It requires courage to speak, but by voluntarily facing your
fear whether it is a fear of being judged, mocked, or shamed,
your mind will have an easier time dealing with the stressors
because you invite the fear to your own mind, instead of being
confronted involuntarily by it. It will also consolidate your
ability to be more brave in future confrontations.

True Peace
Photo by Colton Duke on Unsplash

By speaking one’s mind, is to ensure that a “true peace” will be

achieved, a peace where resentment is addressed, and win-win solution
is provided.

The ability to speak one’s mind is not a matter of should or

shouldn’t, it is a necessity. If we are able to articulate our own
mind and transform it into concrete words and actions, we will
become unstoppable.

Speak your mind…