Getting motivated to gossip less
Gossiping is usually easy to do, there is always someone who will be willing to listen, and there is always something worth gossiping about. So, how can you get motivated to gossip less when there is so much to gossip about? Well, try some of the following:
1. Think about how you hate when people gossip about you. How does that make you feel? A lot of times all the motivation you need to stop gossiping is a look at how you feel. It is not fun being the one that is gossiped about, and it is certainly not fun to hear that others have said unkind things about you or your family in the circles of gossip. How do you feel about people who gossip about you? You probably sort of hate them, or at least dislike that they do that. So, why would you want to be someone that does that? Ask yourself this question next time and every time you are tempted to gossip. It is wise to put yourself into the shoes of the one the gossip is about. It is wise to ask yourself if what you are saying really needs to be said. Gossip has other names, such as trash talking, or talking behind someone's back, and none of the names or connotations that go along with gossip is positive. So, what makes you think it is a good thing to do? When you think about gossip in this light, from this perspective, and with an open mind you will be motivated to gossip less because you will know that it is hurtful and that is not the kind of person you want to be.
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2. Recognize how useless gossip is. Where does it get you? Another great motivator to put a stop to the gossip is to recognize how entirely pointless it is, and look at where it gets you. People do not respect you when you gossip. In fact they worry about becoming your friend because they worry about what you will say about them behind their backs. People do not trust you when you gossip. They realize that nothing will remain between you two, so telling you confidences is not an option. So basically gossip is all negative, no positive. It leaves you with little respect, no true friends, and a lot of hard feelings for others and from others. So, when you look at it this way it is a lot easier to be motivated to gossip less, even if it is an easy topic of conversation.
3. Find a role model. If you want to be motivated in anything, having a role model, someone to model your behavior and actions after really helps. So, find someone you know that refuses to participate in gossip, and who takes a higher road, and use their example as a motivator to stop gossiping yourself. You will find that when you have someone to look up to and to try and be like it is harder to let yourself fall into the habit of gossiping.
4. Have topics for conversation so that you are not tempted to gossip. One of the reasons people gossip is because they have nothing better to talk about and do not want to let the air sit silent. So, if you want motivation to quit gossiping, or to gossip less, have something else on hand and on mind to talk about. Politics, the weather, a past experience or vacation, your kids, there are countless things, and conversation pieces that will get you further, and be better to talk about then juicy bits of gossip, no matter how fun gossip might be.
