You might say…
“I have nothing to say.”
Or, “I have something to say but I’m unwilling to say it.”
Or, “I have something to say but I don’t know how.”
Or, “I’m not sure how it will sound.”
Or, “It won’t make any sense.”
Or, “If I say it, someone might think less, more, or differently about me.”
Or, “Nobody cares what I have to say.”
Or, “Someone else can say it better.”
Or, “I don’t have the time or energy to say it.”
Or, “What difference will it make?”
Or, “I can say it later.”
Or, “It’s already been said.”
Or, “I’m not good at talking in front of people.”
Or, “Nobody cares and nobody’s listening.”
Or, “I don’t listen to other people, so why should they listen to me?”
You might say these things, but they’re all excuses. The choice is simple and fundamental:
Speak or don’t. But don’t make excuses.
If you don’t speak up, you will one day discover that you are living in silence. You will look into your heart, into your soul, into your mind, and find there a deafening silence.
If you’re a musician, you’ll have no song to play. If you’re an artist, no picture to paint. If you’re a writer, no story to tell.
Only silence.
A silence that begins with the idea that you have nothing to say.
A silence that grows with each missed opportunity.
A silence that leads others to be silent toward you in return.
A silence that is not prayerful, comforting, or healthy.
If you do speak, you will find that people will listen.
You will find that people care about what you have to say and how you say it.
You will find that people want to hear your voice and want to speak back to you.
You will find conversation, connection, relationship, wisdom, and meaning.
If you’re a musician, you will discover your own song. If you’re an artist, you will paint your own vision. If you’re a writer, you’ll tell your own unique stories.
The choice is simple and fundamental,
The consequences profound and life-shaping:
Speak or don’t.
But don’t make excuses.