“You Don’t Say: Finding Words When Words Are Hard To Come By”

Finding the right words in any given situation is often hard to do. It’s difficult to choose between how we’d like to express ourselves, what we should say and what we should omit. In this blog, I’ll talk about how we can express ourselves without saying too much, too little or not enough.

Often times, when faced with a difficult conversation or a tricky topic, the best way forward is not to say anything at all. We’ve all been there—tongue tied or feeling our own anxiety about saying the wrong thing—but silence is not always the answer. There are creative ways to respond without having to come up with the perfect words to say.

One approach is to think of something else to say. This doesn’t have to be an immediate reply. Taking a few moments to take a few deep breaths and collecting your thoughts will give you the chance to come up with something else to say, be it an observation or an unrelated anecdote.

You can also get creative by redirecting the conversation. If a conversation feels too personal, for example, it could be a good time to pivot the conversation to something else that is non-threatening. Questions or a kind joke are also a great way to bring some levity to the situation without actually saying something that you don’t mean or feel.

Lastly, think of body language and how that can help to express what you mean. A supportive hand on someone’s shoulder or a knowing smile can often be the right way to convey a certain emotion.

Though silence can sometimes be necessary in certain conversations, finding the right words can be just as impactful. Being aware of different approaches that can help you communicate what you mean and feeling are, even when it’s hard to do, can help open the dialogue and strengthen relationships.