If It Ain’t Broke, Break It

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You’ve probably heard the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” For example, if you make a comment to a friend that you realize later on might have been rude, but they didn’t say anything and they continue to act fine around you, then let it go. That’s a situation where you might say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But what I’m suggesting in the title of this article is, “If it ain’t broke, break it.” What I’m referring to is when silence lurks in your family life. When issues cause silence in a family, it’s important to break the silence and move forward.

If it’s a situation that you don’t think your family can handle on your own, seek professional help. There are pastors, mediators, counselors, coaches, and other individuals out there who are trained to deal with group dynamics. Don’t let the fact that you don’t think you can address it on your own stop you from pursuing every avenue to deal with it. It starts with admitting that you need help. Many people consider seeking outside help a weakness, but the reality is that it actually takes more strength and courage to reach out. The counselors and coaches at our Family Wellness Center often provide intervention services and when it’s all said and done, most clients will tell them that they wish they hadn’t waited so long to make it happen.

Silence can be a killer. Some illnesses are referred to as silent killers, because the illness enters a person’s body without a sign and then does a lot of damage before the person is even aware that they are sick. The same concept applies when there is silence in a family. A lot of destruction can occur before anyone acknowledges the silence.

Of course, there are times when silence is appropriate. When you can’t say something nice, it’s a good time to be quiet. When simple words don’t bring comfort, silence is the best option. When it’s more appropriate to think rather than talk, then silence should prevail. The trick is figuring out which response is appropriate for a given situation.

Silence can kill your family life. If nobody is talking or interacting with each other, that will destroy any chance of winning at home. Therefore, when the opportunity calls for it, break the silence. Don’t wait for someone else to make it happen. Be the agent of change and break the silence before it breaks your family apart.