Communication Tips From the WiseSample

“If a man loudly blesses his neighbour early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.” (Prov. 27:14 NIV)

This proverb teaches us that what we say can easily be undermined by when we say it. This means that you could be saying something right, but because your timing is off, it fails to land well. In the end, what is meant to be good ends up having the opposite effect.

So, when is the right time to speak? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Am I or my spouse feeling highly emotional? When emotions are running high, even the most well-intended words tend to land badly.
• Is the environment conducive to having a discussion? It’s not a great idea to bring something up when your spouse is in a rush, preoccupied with something, or distracted by surroundings.
• Do I really need to say something now? Sometimes the advice or solution won’t be helpful in the moment but can be better received at a different time.

Other proverbs to reflect on: Proverbs 25:11, Proverbs 26:7, Proverbs 15:23