Past Your Lips

The expression "talk is cheap" is fairly simple to figure out and the meaning behind it has been a common message for centuries. Even Scripture shares the truth in Proverbs 14:23, "In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”

There's a time for talking and a time to get to work. If we only talk about action we won't ever get anything accomplished. Figure out what you need and want to do. Develop a plan to make it happen and then go do something about it.

Keep Talking

I love a good conversation. It can center on sports (a definite favorite of mine), my family, problems & solutions, or an exchange of ideas that stretches my mind. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to have all of these happen over a cup of coffee. There are also days where they are interspersed throughout my schedule with good friends and family. I enjoy the shared dialogue, listening to inspiring passions, helping through a difficulty, or even just laughing over a funny story.

There is an intimacy and openness in genuine conversation that is missing in our social media driven world. Perhaps we should commit to reestablishing the practice of face-to-face communication. I believe we would strengthen our relationships and actually enjoy listening to what other people have to say. We might find more value in it than we anticipate.

Talk Time

Whenever we are struggling through conflict, battling with problems, or feeling off-balance, we can end up being very unsure of our next step. Most of us need some time to process what we are thinking and what the right response should be. The problems intensify when we don't move past this stage and keep running things through only in our minds.

At some point we need to open our mouths and engage in helpful dialogue to move past these tough spots. This can be a conversation with a good friend over coffee, an open discussion with colleagues, or even a session with a qualified counselor. It's the next natural step to dealing with complicated situations. If we never reach this stage we end up increasing our own frustration and pushing a potential solution farther away.

At some point we've got to talk.