Stop gossiping

 

Low Energy, High Consequences

When you find the time and energy to engage in gossip, it's worth wondering why your life feels restless and unenjoyable. From my humble experience, people who are busy gossiping often carry a lot of pain and unresolved issues. They're scared to admit or work on these problems, so they find it easier to focus on the flaws—real or imagined—of others to feel better about themselves.

Today, I had breakfast with two people I trust and feel safe with, and we talked about how ugly society has become lately. One of them shared an experience with a woman, a business owner living in the same city, who is older and could be a grandmother, yet she gossips.

This woman and I have never had a conversation or known each other personally, yet she spoke ill of me, spreading untrue and ugly things, despite not knowing me at all. I only know her from her shop where I used to buy things, and that's it. Instead of working on herself and figuring out why she sees others so negatively, she chooses to lie and gossip, lowering her own energy in the process.

When my friends told me about this, I was angry and wanted to confront her, to ask her how she could claim to know me and spread such lies. I cried—not because of what she said, but because it hurt me to realize that we live in a world where people are so unconscious of their words and actions, and the harm they can cause.

During my afternoon dog walk, I talked with my friend Nabil, and the tears flowed as I asked him when people became so ugly. He told me, "Shaimaa, people throw stones at fruitful trees, trying to get their fruit. Don’t bother with what people say, and don’t pay attention." His words were comforting.

When I had my project, the Green House, up and running, I had a rule that was shared with all my guests: gossipers would be blacklisted. Even if people don't know what's being said behind their backs, it still harms the collective consciousness, which in turn lowers our collective energy.

Dear gossiper, if you have the courage to say something, say it directly to the person you think is doing wrong. And if you find yourself inventing stories about others to fill a void in your life, please work on yourself and spare the rest of us from the ugliness.

Goodnight, everyone.