The Rumor Mill — Reverse Gossip

No matter where you go, you’re going to run into a rumor mill. Whether work, school, large families, or neighborhood communities. You can probably think of one place you know you’ll find a rumor or gossip mill in your life. It’s a place with no definitive location, but you can walk in any time. It can start off innocent. You walk in looking for updates of what’s going on with your company, school work, family plans etc. However, if you’re not careful, it can turn into gossip.

Gossip is the causal conversations about other people typically involving details that may or may not be true. Gossip is going behind someone’s back. It’s an act of hate, not love. It’s negative, downgrading, and not easily stopped.

I’ve had my fair share of conversations where someone tells me something bad about someone else. I’m not perfect myself. I have my ranting days, but I want to do better, and I have my own experience to thank for that. I hate to say it, but when someone talks bad about someone to me, I lose a little trust in the person saying these bad things. If they’re willing to talk bad about somebody else to me then who’s to say they aren’t talking bad about me to others? I want to be a trustworthy person, and I can’t be that if I talk bad about others.

On the radio the other day, I heard about this cool thing called “Reverse Gossip.” It’s an act where you’re still talking about someone behind their back. However, instead of the negatives, you talk about their strengths and accomplishments. You talk about everything you like about someone.

Wouldn’t it be cool if the Rumor or Gossip Mills in our workplaces, schools, families, etc. turned into Reverse Gossip Mills? Imagine how encouraging things would get. Instead of someone being ridiculed for forgetting something or making a mistake, they’re cheered for their skills and contribution. Celebrated for who they are and given grace for what doesn’t measure up in our eyes.

I dare you to check yourself this week. Whenever you find negative words coming out of your lips, clamp your mouth shut. Try to think of something encouraging to say instead. And, if someone comes up to you wanting to gossip, change the subject. Stand against gossip and go into reserve.

 Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

Proverbs 26:20