A tactful and kind strategy to sustain meaningful relationships. Yet, you find yourself in a situation where spilling the truth may seem fair, but the damage it may cause the other person is incomparable. If you don’t choose the path of honesty, you preserve the truth that needs to be heard.
Dare to share the truth, and you’ll get your point across –– perhaps a bit too harshly. Fortunately, there is a way to administer the honorable facts without punishing the receiver’s emotional well-being. The following scenarios are perfect ways in which we can have the courage to be respectfully honest with another person.
Consider your words
There’s that old saying –– “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” It’s a good reminder to keep with us, especially when deciphering whether to be honest in a situation or not. Pausing and considering our words before verbally expressing them, can do wonders when it comes down to saving our relations with friends or partners. Once you say something, it cannot be undone. If you wish to state the truth, make sure it doesn’t harm the other person’s emotional/physical state, unless he/she is in a potentially dangerous situation.
Tone of voice
You’d be surprised to find out how many different ways you can say the same thing but each version has a slightly different connotation to it. Choose wisely when you want to be honest but don’t want to damage the other person with your words. Your tone of voice also affects the way someone retrieves the information you will share with them. Suggesting that a dress doesn’t enhance a woman’s features in a positive, concerning tone is much more acceptable to hear than judgmentally criticizing a woman’s figure.
Acknowledge the other person’s feelings
Regardless of whether the truth will be hard to bear, you always need to be respectful and mindful that this person has feelings as well. You want this person to discover the truth for a reason. Make sure you emphasize that it is for their personal well-being because you care for them. Allow them to voice their opinions and concerns related to the truth as well. It is important that you hear them out.
Offer a solution
Because the truth can be hurtful, despite your attempts to avoid it, offering a solution to the problem can be a great way to show your sympathy for this person. Not only are you offering them a helpful alternative, but it shows that you took the time to consider the best for them.
The points in the article are the opinion of the writer based on her experience.
