You're not Always Going to be Heard
Those who choose not to hear you may be in a position to assist and help, yet will choose not to do what is possible and needed
“... the freedom to speak becomes meaningless when disconnected from the possibility of being heard."
Dr. Alondra Nelson
Being heard isn't a given. Never has been with people, never will be, even when it isn't much to ask and expect. That’s just a harsh reality we have to come to accept, regardless of how painful of a realization.
This fact of life, as you can imagine, can lead to a myriad of problems: small, moderate, significant, dangerous and deadly.
Those who don't allow for people to be heard can be complicit in whatever outcomes develop. Their emotions drive their reactions and decisions.
Their explanations in response might seem reasonable to them, as we can make our actions defensible through mental gymnastics even if they usually are manufactured, hollow and inaccurate, if not untruthful or worse, dishonest.
I mention this because you, like me, maybe have a trauma you’ve experienced and eventually labored to work past or are still enduring because of not being heard when you communicated facts, objectivity, respectable reason and truth.
Maybe you were even able to provide evidence and “proof.” It was judged still not good enough or worse, a “lie.”
Regardless, remember, you did what you could, you were honest. Life doesn’t always reward all that was previously mentioned in this article.
We don’t live in an ideal world. Reality is harsh. Knowing you were honest and tried is the victory, even if it never has felt like it.
Michael Toebe is the specialist at Reputation Intelligence, helping individuals and organizations with matters of credibility, trust, decision analysis, communications, relationships and reputation.
You can DM him on Substack or contact him below for consulting, risk analysis, coaching, ongoing advisory, a variety of proactive and responsive communications and reputation (not legal) representation.
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