The Words You Don't Say Matter 🧩
"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it." — Flannery O'Connor
"When you speak, do you aim to express truth or merely to avoid conflict? How might the pursuit of honesty transform the impact of your words?"
A few years ago, I sat across from someone I cared about deeply, nodding along to a conversation that I should have challenged.
They were making decisions that I knew, without a doubt, would hurt them in the long run. But I smiled. I stayed agreeable. I let them walk straight into a mess.
Why?
Because telling the truth would have been uncomfortable. It would have made things awkward. Maybe it would have led to an argument.
And at that moment, avoiding conflict felt more important than being honest.
But silence has consequences.
When you withhold what needs to be said, you don't just betray someone else, you betray yourself. You become smaller. You shrink under the weight of words unsaid.
And worst of all?
You rob the other person of the opportunity to see what they might be blind to.
Honesty isn’t about being cruel. It’s about being clear.
And when you value truth more than temporary comfort, you stop speaking just to smooth things over. You start speaking to make things right.
Here's a challenge:
Think of a moment where you held back the truth to keep the peace. What was the cost of that silence?
Next time you're tempted to bite your tongue, pause. Ask yourself: Am I avoiding conflict, or am I avoiding reality?
Reframe honesty as kindness. Instead of thinking “I don’t want to hurt them,” consider, “How can I say this in a way that actually helps?”
The truth isn’t always easy, but it is necessary. And when spoken with integrity, it has the power to transform not just conversations—but lives.
"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it." — Flannery O'Connor
You can ignore reality, but reality doesn’t return the favor. Avoiding hard truths doesn’t make them disappear—it just postpones the reckoning.
Have you ever regretted holding back the truth? Or maybe you’ve had a moment where someone’s honesty, though uncomfortable, changed everything for the better?
I’d love to hear about it. Drop a comment, share your story, or tell me how today’s Healing Text is hitting you. Let’s make this a space for real, honest conversations.
Truth isn’t a weapon. It’s a gift. But only when used with care.
When you speak, don’t just aim to be agreeable. Aim to be real. Let honesty shape your words, and let integrity shape how you deliver them. The people who truly belong in your life will respect you more for it. And you’ll respect yourself more, too.
Keep speaking. Keep listening. Keep growing.
— Ryan Puusaari
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