The misunderstandings that take place in your home and workplace today can cause you to ask yourself whether you ought to reconsider your beliefs and opinions. However, the confusion you inspire in others may be the result of simple miscommunications rather than some flaw in your position. You are likely expressing yourself in an indistinct manner so as not to offend those who disagree with you, so your speech may not touch others as you hoped it might today. You can reclaim your ability to move people with your words by considering what you wish to say and framing your entire argument before you ever say a word.

When we give thought to what we are trying to say before we express ourselves, we can more easily convey complex and challenging ideas. Our words not only carry more weight when articulately communicated, they also stand less of a chance of being misunderstood. We feel poised and self-assured because we have clearly framed the arguments taking shape in our minds, leaving little room for ambiguity. And others can put their confidence in our words because they understand and accept the points we are trying to make. Though we cannot guarantee that the people we speak with will appreciate our thoughts or take them to heart, we can do our part to ensure that our listeners are always cognizant of our basic message. You will stand less of a chance of being misunderstood today when you think carefully before putting your ideas into words.