“I’m just blunt.”
“I say whatever I’m thinking.”
“That’s just how I am.”
I remind my teenage boys all the time: Know your audience and be respectful of them.
That takes self-awareness. You have to notice who’s around you, what’s happening, and whether the way you’re acting fits the situation. The way you talk with close friends at home may not be appropriate in a workplace, a classroom, or a restaurant where families are having dinner.
I learned that at a dinner with girlfriends. One friend was talking loudly, using a lot of profanity, and sharing things that felt pretty inappropriate for the setting. There was a family sitting nearby, so I quietly reminded her that we should be respectful.
She didn’t love hearing that. Her response was essentially: “That’s just who I am. If they don’t like it, they can move.”
But being yourself doesn’t mean ignoring the people around you. If your behavior is making others uncomfortable, “that’s just how I am” doesn’t make it respectful.
Self-awareness means having the mental space to read the room and choose how to show up. You don’t have to pretend to be someone else. You do have to recognize that you’re sharing the space with other people.
Tuesday Tip
Before you say or do something, take a beat. Who’s here? What’s appropriate in this moment? That pause is a form of respect.
Keep Shining - Be Who You Came to Be
