Sometimes it is best NOT to say something

This is another one of life's harder lessons for me...

Now before you equate this with some coverup culture vibe or worse, please give me an opportunity to unpack this idea a little more, and with all important context.

I have recently been working for a major organisation in our country, where part of the contractual side of my employment strongly discourages us from speaking publicly about what we do.

We are even told people will be reviewing what we like or share on social media.

It has been so challenging not responding to posts and comments about who I work for online, because some of it has been plainly wrong.

And yet I have had to hold my tongue.

Avoid responding.

Run from clicking on a like or an angry face icon.

While this may seem draconian, it has actually taught me something...

You and I live in a time in history where we can share our lives more publicly than in previous generations. This algorithmic universe we travel in rewards sharing of life's moments, good and bad. In fact I wonder if it encourages overshare in many circumstances?

Share more and you will be "rewarded" more with clicks, likes, attention and perceived relevance.

Some have forgotten the virtue of temperance.

Others have potentially lost their personal filter as they seek attention and relevance in our culture.

I think that you can't always anticipate the response from your posts, your sharing. And that includes the narrative people can begin to write in their hearts about you, your motivations and your ultimate value to them.

Sharing everything can in hindsight be a bad thing.

Maybe it creates a wrong impression of who you are and your values?

Maybe it comes back to haunt you in the future?

Interestingly in scripture we are encouraged to sometimes hide from others, maybe for a time, what we are navigating, and yet not hide it from God himself.

Jesus said that "when you pray..." Matthew 6:5 to not be like others who look super spiritual, theologically superior and avoid being public with your prayers.

He finishes this interesting comment on prayer "...go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 NIV

In fact if you read more of the same chapter Jesus encourages 3 things be done in secret:

Prayer

Giving

Fasting

I have been thinking about this lately and feeling challenged in my own heart.

Have I been oversharing? Putting too much of myself into the world, or at least being unwise as to the level of my sharing.

I think I struggle like others with this concept.

I want to talk, want to share, and sometimes have regretted just how much I exposed in hindsight.

Contrary to popular belief - you don't share everything, with everyone, all the time.

Now I not attempting to encourage you to hide your life's realities and challenges completely.

What I am suggesting is that you apply a healthy dose of wisdom to your approach.

To take a bead, to think ahead about what you are considering sharing with the world.

Sometimes it is better to keep the circle small with what is happening with us.

Sometimes it is more wise to consider the timing of sharing broadly, the impact, the potential unintended consequences both in the moment and in the future.

Sometimes it is better to share the outcome after the process.

As a famous proverb goes...

"Wisdom is proven right by her actions."

Something to think about...