Today, the world gossips about anything and everything that has some spice to offer. Several studies even go on to say that we are hardwired to gossip. But here’s the irony—whereas most of us invariably gossip (in varying degrees), none of us like being branded a gossipmonger. We even go to the extent of perceiving gossiping as a flaw in character. But, is gossiping wrong? Well, gossip can hurt the reputation of others as much as it can hurt our own. Hollywood film Mean Girls is a perfect example of this. In the movie, the protagonist is accused of maintaining a journal of secrets (acquired through gossip) about fellow schoolmates. And one fine day, when the contents of the book become viral, chaos and mayhem spread like wildfire. Personal secrets become public, trust shatters, friendships break, leaving behind the residues of resentment and hurt.
Given how gossip can wreak havoc in our lives and relationships, it would seem ideal for us not to give in to this tendency. What if, on the contrary, we were told gossiping can do just as much good? Motivational speaker and behavioural scientist Steve Maraboli suggests in his book Life, the Truth, and Being Free the more we make it a point to gossip only about the good side of others, the more we’d encourage others to do the same. He believes, life would become so much better if we walked away from negative gossip, slander, and verbal defamation.
In the end, even if we are predisposed to gossip, we still have a choice to not be negative and rather gossip about the goodness of people. And this conviction of ours could make all the difference. The more we focus on the negative traits of a person and talk about them with vehemence, the more we are likely to find ourselves soaked in our own negativity. Instead, should we make it a habit to look at the bright side of others and engage in positive gossip, the more we’d spread happiness and positivity.