MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

"Did you hear that so-and-so has failed her exams?"

"You will never guess what happened! Last night I was at this theatre and that girl from our Computer class was also there with….."

“Did you hear the latest news about Paris Hilton ....?

Someone has once said that today's gossip becomes tomorrow’s headlines. Once we hear something juicy, we are just bursting to tell someone else, regardless of whether it’s harmful or even true. From our next door neighbours to the most popular celebrities in Hollywood and Bollywood, gossiping about other people is a guilty pleasure that almost everyone participates in.

"It is fun to gossip about friends, love lives, and general life drama," a youngster stated.” It is definitely free entertainment." This "free entertainment" has become a part of nearly everyone's daily conversations. Almost 65 percent of what people discuss every day is gossip, according to theWebMD.com. Some of us feel that the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about". “Gossiping is how a lot of people connect with each other,” says Jeannette Maw, a professional life coach. “This is just how we fit in.” It can also be a powerful form of communication when it is just correct information that is passed around. It releases stress as long as it is light- hearted and not malicious.

Gossip is the art of saying nothing in a way that leaves practically nothing unsaid. It is also defined as Hearing something you like about someone you don't. There is some kind of excitement to know more about what is going on in another person's life and if it is a controversial incident about someone else we enjoy telling it to everybody possible.

With countless news reports on young students bullying each other and spreading rumours, gossip is often thought of as mean-spirited chitchat occurring in the hallways of colleges around the world. Though its human nature to be curious and inquisitive about people around us we must also remember that character assassination and mud slinging can destroy a person’s life to such an extent that the damage may be irreversible at times. By gossiping, we give place for negativity within ourselves and project it on another person, and we are probably destroying trust and relationships.

For those of us who want to quit from this belly-aching here are ways to change:

Perhaps we haven’t realized how much of our conversations revolve around complaining. People certainly enjoy being around someone more upbeat and less negative. We need to sort through our memory for what we’ve been saying. Even simple statements like, "Its such a boring day" or "look at that terrible outfit" are negative. Just recognizing how we sound is a step in the right direction.

For a few days we need to consider and self-censor what comes out of our mouths. Is it necessary? Is it true? Does it contribute to the conversation or activity? Is it negative? How will it sound to the other person? We may find ourselves talking less while we work through this process. Self-awareness is the key to changing this behaviour.

We need to strive towards putting a positive twist on everything we say. We need to deliberately see to it that everything that comes out of our mouths sounds positive. The ideal thing is to adjust our perspectives. Choosing our words to sound more positive, results in feeling better about things. Try it.

Be Aware that someone you. There are times when we need to confide our own problems with a friend, But choose a friend who can be trusted. Never reveal anything to a person who gossips -- they can’t be trusted. The Book of Proverbs states, “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret”.

As someone once said, a gossip is someone who talks to you about others, a bore is someone who talks to you about himself, and a brilliant conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself. So finally it is a personal choice…. As Albert Einstein is believed to have said "If A equals success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y and Z, with X being work, Y being play, and Z keeping one's mouth shut."