Silence is NOT Surrender

In this age of anti-bullying, silence is looked upon as a weakness.  In some times, it probably could be construed that way BUT there are times when it's perfectly acceptable and, more than that, healthy.  Sometimes it's the words that you don't speak that make a difference.  Here are a few other things that are considered weak....but aren't.

Silence This is the first and biggest to me.  People view not getting the last word as a way of a way of surrendering their power.  This is NOT the case.  In fact, it's nowhere even CLOSE to the case.  Your silence is about your sanity and your strength.  You know that someone is speaking ill of you and you choose to continue to live your life the same way.  It doesn't matter what they say because you have strength within you.  They'll get mean...they'll use your weakest and most vulnerable parts as their ammunition.  Your silence just simply means you choose not to give those ideas merit.

Crying  It has taken me a lonnnnng time to understand that crying does not mean weakness.  I've always been a person that believes that women use crying as a manipulation tool.  It's why I hate to cry in front of anyone, regardless of the situation.  The reality of it is that crying isn't weak.  It means that you're human.  It's actually good for your body and soul to let loose sometimes.

Moving On Moving on is not about revenge or running, it's about closure.  It's about understanding that some things or people are in your life for a season and you have to be willing to move past that season when it's time to be done.  You can want summer to stay as much as you want but autumn still comes.  Moving on is acceptance.

and finally...

Apologies Apologies come in all shapes and sizes.  Most are meant to ask forgiveness and promise to modify your behavior.  These are not weak but strong in their essence because it means that you are admitting weakness.  Some apologies, though, are about letting someone know that you're there to support them and you feel badly that they feel badly.  Support systems, friends, family...these are where these apologies normally come from.  They aren't weak; they're kind.

Instead of looking at the weakness and vulnerability of your approach, look at the big picture.  Can you live without the thing or person you're worried about being vulnerable in front of?  Chances are, you need to swallow your pride and choose the risk of vulnerability or you'll lose them (or it) and wish you would have just surrendered when you had the chance.