To gossip means to talk about others either in a negative or positive way. No doubt, every one of us engages in one form of gossip or another at any point in time. That is not bad. Afterall, as social beings, it's natural for us to show how much we care about our fellow humans by saying or doing something for them.
Gossip is of two types: harmless or positive and harmful or negative gossip respectively. Positive or harmless gossip is when we talk positively about others thereby making it possible for them to see themselves in a positive light. Harmless gossip uplifts and tends to brings out the good in others, such that, when those about whom we gossip get to hear of, they feel happy within them.
Harmful gossip on the other hand is saying something negative about someone. Unfortunately, harmful gossip is so common that it has even subsumed the positive gossip so much that today, anything said about others is regarded as a (negative) gossip regardless of whether such is even positive. In fact, talking about others is generally viewed as harmful gossip. True, it's in every human to always want to appear faultless and justified in every action he takes. And he feels the only way to achieve that is by pulling others down and painting them black, thereby damaging their reputation. Often, harmful gossip is done in the absence of the gossiped. This accounts to why it most often tilts towards negativity.
To avoid harmful gossip, as a youth endeavor to keep yourself busy with positive engagements. Avoid loitering around with people who make other people's matters their business. And if gossips begin to shift towards negative overture, if possible, change the topic with positive one or have the willpower to excuse yourself. Also always see the good in others and praise their positive qualities.
Bottom line: while gossip is not bad in itself, it's important you ask yourself: 'do I uplift or damage reputation with my gossip'?
Be a harmless gossip. Avoid harmful gossip 👍🙏
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