The third factor of the Buddhist Eightfold Path is Right Speech. Using the right speech is a difficult one to monitor or be aware of because the way we speak is often impulsive and reactive, especially if you have no filter. Digging into this topic can actually go quite deep once you start having a look at all the ways you have used speech or have heard others using their words. Using right speech is about devotion to the truth and will therefore bring awareness, help, compassion, affection, and light to those around us. Speech is an expression of the heart. Wrong speech involves gossip, slander, selfish manipulation, abuse, lying and tale-telling, harsh cursing, vain talk, and pointless idle chatter to name a few. But perhaps you have heard the expression of the right means used in the wrong way becomes the wrong means, and the wrong means used in the right way becomes the right means. So it all points to the previous two factors of right understanding and right intention.

Using right speech is to not be deceptive but to be honest, but not in the way where you blurt out what you think all the time and just say you are being honest. It's about being honest of our intentions, or of our ignorance, or of our thoughts, or of our knowledge if it's appropriate and relevant and beneficial to the one we are communicating with. Not all thoughts need to be expressed. And some thoughts that have been repressed maybe should be expressed.

Right speech should be inclusive, not divisive. It should be encouraging and uplifting more than being any degree of judgemental unhelpful criticism. It should be authentic and true, and that might include being soft or being loud, gentle and polite or direct and assertive, comical or serious, or however your character is. But underneath the expression of our speech is how our heart communicates with the world and the people in it. So our speech needs to be examined with awareness if it is timely, truthful, beneficial, relevant, and with having right intentions. Our words can have a massive ripple effect into the mood of a room or on a person's life. Think about what you've said to someone before that you regret. Is it possible to refrain from using speech that leads to more suffering in yourself or another?

Perhaps you have known someone or have been the someone to be nice to your face while speaking unkindly of another, leading to manipulating another person's perceptions. Perhaps you have used speech in order to get what you want or to have power and control over another being. Compare that to when you have used words to brighten up someone's day or encouraged another. Speech is a powerful mirror into our minds. Equally important with what we say is how we listen. Allowing another's voice to be heard with an open attention and care helps another to express their truth. Right speech is well spoken, truthful, blameless, shameless, gentle, purposeful, and reflects a heart that is connected to spirit.

Reflect on the way your speech comes out. Do you seek to understand others or do you want to be right?

What is asking to be expressed? What should remain silent?