It is very easy in the midst of conflict to put one’s head down and stay silent.

Too often we let others walk all over us in fear of upsetting the status quo or losing relationships.

The sad fact is that if one has to suppress their feelings and emotions to maintain a relationship, that relationship is not worth keeping in the first place.

As much as people would rather believe otherwise, expressing one’s thoughts and opinions is not only an integral part of healthy communication, it is vital to mental health as well.

To keep those thoughts and emotions quiet can cause all kinds of emotional problems and possibly even physical ones.

The stress induced by suppressing one’s emotions can affect other areas of one’s life.

This can be especially true in school or a workplace.

Emotional distress can cause students to be distracted or more easily frustrated, as well as making it more difficult for them to focus on lessons or homework.

This can also be a problem for employees.

As bad as it is for students, it can be as bad if not worse for those in the workforce.

Employees’ livelihoods often rely on their ability to do their job and do it well.

When those same employees are distracted and unable to focus on their tasks, not only are their workplaces suffering, but their means of making a living are jeopardized as well.

Thus, the simple act of not speaking one’s mind can send their life into a vicious spiral downwards that can be very difficult to climb out of.

This is not to say that it is always wise to voice every thought that flies through one’s head.

There is, of course, a time to hold one’s tongue, or a time to wait for the opportune moment to make one’s opinion known.

The most important thing to remember in any of these situations is that if you feel what you have to say is important enough that it will still matter the next day, it is best to voice it.

Another aspect of this is the actual presentation of the information.

If words are said in haste and anger, the likelihood of those words having a positive impact on one’s life greatly decreases.

However, if those same words are said in a calm and informative manner, it can drastically alter the impact they have.

The bottom line is, it is vastly important to express oneself in a healthy and explanatory way, both for the benefit of oneself and the benefit of one’s relationships.

We are not doormats. We are not made to be walked on and ignored.

We are not made to suffer in silence.

Mercury Bowen is a senior journalism major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].