Two eyes, two ears and one mouth. Sometimes the best advice you can give to yourself –keep your mouth shut.
Listening and understanding before engaging your mouth can really save a lot of disputes and misunderstandings. A lot of the time we speak and make judgements about a situation before we have had time to take on board all the facts. This can be with friends, family or even our children.
My children discovered early on they were a lot smarter and sharper than me, consequently I often fell fowl of not engaging my brain for long enough before I opened my mouth.
The result was I was continually shooting myself in the foot either by volunteering my services without having the full facts available – or saying yes to something that with further information I would have said no to.
So when a good friend advised me that I should remember I have two eyes, two ears and one mouth and that really I should try listening more and speaking less, I readily took on board this piece of advice, although at times, given I am both opinionated and like to please it has not come easy.
However taking a stance of taking longer to listen and understand the request or situation I am confronted with and then buying myself time with the simple words “Can I think about it and get back to you”, has saved my bacon more times than I care to remember.
Remember buy yourself time and adhere to the two eyes, two ears and one mouth rule it really is powerful parenting tip.
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