Before You Speak, THINK!

Melissa DiFonzo, MSW RSW · Tips and Life Hacks

Have you ever regretted something you told someone after you reacted in the heat of the moment? Ever held yourself back from saying something you wanted to because you weren't sure how it would be received? Find yourself thinking too much about the things you should or shouldn’t have said? Think no longer!

Well, don’t stop entirely. What I am going to share with you will involve some THINK-ing but not in the way you might think.

(OK, I’ll take it easy on the puns!)

When I first began my journey into therapy, my therapist shared a helpful acronym which she said I should consider when communicating to others. It's something I still use to this day and want to share with you.

Consider T-H-I-N-K.

T = is it True?

H = is it Helpful?

I = is it Inspiring?

N = is it Necessary?

K = is it Kind?

I’d like to point out that not everything we say will be necessary per-se—for example, sometimes smalltalk about the weather or about your day can be a great icebreaker that leads to a deeper connection with someone.

So, as you speak today, don’t think too much about it! Instead, just remember to THINK.

(That was the last one!)

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