Loud people and those who cannot refrain from nagging need not read this article. This is intended for the analytical mind. Those who use the "weighing scale" blindfolded more often than not before voicing out the judgment. This article calls out to all people who mistakenly equates silence to a state of nirvana. Most importantly, this article is intended for those who feel the heat of hell by remaining silent when they should not have zipped their mouths in the first place.

Hereunder are the top reasons why you should not remain silent:

1. TO MAKE THEM REALIZE YOU EXIST - While the air is considered a matter that has weight and occupies space, nothing is more disheartening and discouraging than by letting people in group discussions ignore you as if you don't matter. Remember, you are more solid and visible than the air. People you care for should not only 'inhale' you one second and 'exhale' you the next one. You are duty-bound to satisfy the other senses and you can only do that by ending your silence in a positive way and making them realize you exist. It is always satisfying to contribute something good during important and worthwhile discussions.

2. TO STOP ABUSES - and this is a very serious matter for every victim of any form of abuse. You need to break the silence or you will be perceived as a willing victim by the perpetrator.
Crime does not pay but you need to speak up first.

3. IT's SIMPLY TIME TO SPEAK UP - We were given two ears and one mouth so we would tend to listen more than we ought to speak. But when it is your turn to share your piece and listening ears are eagerly awaiting the magical sound of the words that express what's in your heart and mind, please don't pass up on the opportunity or "you'll forever hold your peace" and end with migraine, stomach cramps, indigestion, and insomia. Everyone has a story to tell. When you are through listening, maybe it's time to start telling your views, opinions, and the things that can facilitate better understanding.

4. IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR BREATH - the quality of your breath can get terribly affected by keeping your silence for an abnormally longer period of time. However, when you have actually held your piece for a long time, and then decide all of a sudden to speak, make sure to use some breath freshener before blurting out the "good news" that is not coated in aged saliva. You will do your listener a lot of favor.

5. YOU HAVE SOMETHING GOOD TO SAY - 99.9999% of people are not mind readers. Misunderstandings usually stem from dangerous assumptions that the other party already knows. If you have not at once said it yet, the other party has not heard it yet and therefore, does not know it yet. So better say those compliments NOW or you'll be perceived us an unappreciative and uncaring cold-blooded creature. Or are you?

6. USAGE OF ONE'S SPEAKING ABILITIES HAS THERAPAUTIC BENEFITS - Counsellors, Psychiatrists, and other listening professions proliferate and earn substantially because people need to be heard and the most efficient way of being heard is to voice out what's inside. The process by which this is done provides a magical and soothing relief on the part of the speaker.

7. FINE TUNING YOUR SPEAKING ABILITIES is one of the requisites to leading a happy life. A happy and fulfilling life means you know what you want and you are exactly getting them because you have perfectly communicated exactly the things that you want. And the only way to at the level of perfectly communicating is through constant practice - this means abstinence from keeping mum when the very situation calls for you to speak up and be heard.

In all of these, please also bear in mind one nice and simple rule - "If you have nothing good to say, keep your mouth shut."

by Ivan Curtis