Are you the kind of person that always gives an opinion? Are you the kind of person that doesn’t like awkward silences? Are you the kind of person that talks more in conversations than others?

There’s this strange epidemic of people with “loud mouths," where people seem to think it is okay to say whatever they want, whenever they want. These people think that they’re “being honest,” but they don’t have any regard for feelings or common sense.

Do you know someone whose opinion you respect so much that when he or she talks, you listen and trust every word? That person understands you and listens to what you say, no matter the amount of crazy. That person knows the key value everyone learned in elementary school: “if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say it at all.”

If you don’t know how to keep your mouth shut, empty words make you sound stupid. More often, a lot of the words you say end up hurting people, because you don’t talk before you speak, and think you’re being honest. However, thinking before you speak and evaluating the context of the situation you’re in, leads to few or no mistakes. Once you learn that less talking means more listening, you will understand the secret to the art of keeping your mouth shut.

No More Empty Words

The more you talk, the emptier your words become. It becomes less meaningful, because when you talk all the time, people will begin to give your words little attention or value. You will find yourself surrounded by people waiting for you to finish speaking and won't ask you for your advice or opinion anymore.

Respect

When you don’t talk, you don’t have to worry about causing more conflict or saying something stupid, because you didn’t say anything at all.

The Smart Friend

People try to talk to make themselves seem smarter, but it’s the ones who don’t talk who are most intelligent. You will be referred to as the wise and intelligent friend, the one who always listens rather than talking.