InspirEmail

InspirEmail No 166 - September 28th, 2009
'Inspirational messages to refresh the spirit and boost the emotional bank account'

Can you pass the triple filter test?

When should you pass news on and when should you keep it to yourself?

An old fable has it that a scholar in ancient Baghdad was said to be unusually wise. One day an acquaintance met the great scholar and said, 'Do you know what I just heard about your friend?'

'Wait,' the scholar replied. 'Before you continue, let me ask a question.

'Is what you are about to tell me the truth?'

'I don't know,' the man said.

'All right,' said the scholar.

'You don't know if it's true. Let me ask another question.'

'Is what you are about to tell me good?'

'No, it isn't!' the man replied.

'Then allow me to ask a third question.'

'Is what you are about to tell useful to me?' asked the scholar.

'No, it is not useful,' said the man.

Then the scholar said, 'If it may not be true, if it is not good and it is not useful, then why do you want to tell me at all?'

Does your news pass the triple filter test? Ask yourself these questions before you speak: Is what I am about to say the truth? Is it good? And is it useful? If you can answer yes to only two of these questions, be careful about what you pass along. But if what you are about to tell passes all three filters, then it should be told!

My friend Bob Burg has a different approach. 'Play the 'Reverse Gossip' Game,' he says. 'See how many nice things you can say behind someone's back.'

Sounds like a game that everyone wins.

Written by Steve Goodier
Steve Goodier publishes This is Your Life Support System, a free e-newsletter sharing life, love and laughter. For Steve's contact details please visit . . . Positive Inspirational Links >>>

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When you speak of someone or about someone, you should speak as though they were in the room with you.
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A monthly positive inspirational story and quote to refresh your spirit and boost the emotional bank account. InspirEmail was first published in November 2005 and each issue can be viewed in the Archived InspirEmail Directory located below the latest issue of InspirEmail


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