Have you ever felt torn between wanting to process through a problem, but not be gossipy about the situation in the meantime?

Do you worry that you’ll hurt feelings if you share frustrations with a third party, but then also be left without a resolution to the problem?

You’re not alone in this, sister.

It’s a fine line between problem solving and the sneaky, little thing called gossip. However, an answer can be found from asking yourself a few, honest, and hard-hitting questions.

First, always consider the environment in which you are speaking about the topic at hand – do these friends have a vested interest in solving the resolution?

Then continue on and ask yourself,

‘Does this conversation focus on the person or the problem?’

If you find the topic is the person, rather than the problem you’re trying to solve – then there may a problem with the conversation you’re having. AKA- gossip.

Friend, we were created to lift each other up and honor one another. And you are so capable of that – even in tough situations where gossip tries to take over. Never stop pursuing excellence in all of your conversations!

In today’s episode you’ll hear how I answer the question from a follower, Sophie, ‘How do I avoid gossip?’ In this Ask J series, you’ll learn:

• Tools to identify gossip – before the words slip out and it’s too late!
• How to shut down a conversation that is taking a turn down gossip lane;
• The five questions to ask yourself before sharing your frustration with another friend.

Friendships are such an essential part of life, so check out these other episodes on identifying healthy friendships if you’d like more on this topic:

• 5 Ways to Know if Your Friendships are Healthy or Toxic
• What To Do When Your Friend Makes Unhealthy Choices
  Relationship Frustrations?

Share these episodes with those closest to you to lift each other up. Thank a friend today that you know always has your character and heart in mind with each word they speak.

And if you’re interested on how to not let gossip or the pressure of others get the way of making your mark in the world, check out my book, sister. You’ll find all this and more here.