"It is best to keep your mouth shut and be presumed ignorant than to open it and remove all doubt." – Mark Twain
Tweet Have you ever had to bite your tongue to keep from saying something that might get you into hot water or cause hurt feelings? What about keeping your mouth shut when you’d rather say, “I told you so.” 
There are many opportunities when what you don’t say is as important as what you do say. Remember the old adage, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
I am here to today to give you credit for what you don’t say.
What does this have to do with energizing your creativity? Your creativity needs protecting and nurturing. Sometime we need to speak up and let our feelings be known: sometimes the requirement is silence.
Here are some times that I think what you don’t say is preferable:
• Keep mum about the mistakes you know or think you know are in your work; let the work speak for itself.
• Don’t blab on and on about a new idea. You will talk it out of your system.
• Don’t argue with a critique. Practice your best Mona Lisa smile and, if forced, use the phrase, “You may be right.” (How can anyone argue with that?)
• Don’t make grand announcements regarding your creative plans to family members or co-workers unless you want to be reminded daily that you aren’t following through as grandly announced.
• Don’t be a know-it-all. Practice listening. You might be inspired or learn something.
• Stop explaining. If you say no to something, you don’t owe a lengthy heartfelt explanation why you are saying no.
Energizer Break:
Practice verbal awareness for one day or one week. Then give yourself lots of credit for all the stuff that you didn’t say. Celebrate by going in your closet and giving it a piece of your mind if you need to. You could celebrate by taking yourself to a nice meal and not tell anyone!
My friend and I are all the time bestowing credit on each other for what the other managed to keep quiet about, but could only keep quiet about it until they found a sympathtic ear.
Leave a comment here about what you didn't say and I will give you lots of credit that you deserve!
Have a creative day!
Hugs, Diana