My wife found this online not to long ago and I’ll admit that at first, I didn’t take it that seriously. However, the more I thought about it—and the more I tried to incorporate it into my everyday encounters—the more helpful it became. I thought I’d share it with you all, hoping you find it helpful as well.
It’s known as the T.H.I.N.K. acronym and it’s a communication guide prompting us to ask five questions before speaking: True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, and Kind, serving as a filter to encourage thoughtful, positive, and constructive communication—spoken and written—especially online and in conflict situations. It’s used in schools, therapy, and personal development to promote self-regulation and better interactions.
The T.H.I.N.K. questions:
- T—Is it True? Not gossip or misinformation? *
- H—Is it Helpful? Does it add value or solve a problem? *
- I—Is it Inspiring? Does it uplift or motivate? *
- N—Is it Necessary? Does it need to be said?
- K—Is it Kind? Is it compassionate and respectful?
* Some versions use Thoughtful, Honorable, and Intelligent, or Important.
To the best of my knowledge, no author or source has been identified, but in researching, I found it on the coachingtoolscompany.com, which offered additional questions to consider to help improve communication:
- Am I saying this from a place of anger? Am I being respectful?
- Who is my audience? Who else might be able to see, hear or read this?
- How might what I’m saying or writing appear to others?
- Could someone misinterpret what I’m saying or writing?
- What am I saying about myself with these words?
In considering all this, as people of faith who are part of a community of faith, I think that we need to also ask how our words—written or spoken—reflect on our faith? On our church? On God? Do our words reflect our Christian values? Do they show us to be followers of Jesus Christ?