Gossip or Not?
Talking about a person's personal situation with someone who has no reason to know about it is an example of what?
What is gossip?
You cannot control what other people say about you, but you can control this.
What is how you respond?
You hear someone say something negative about you. Your first reaction is anger. What should you avoid doing immediately?
What is reacting while angry or confronting the person aggressively?
When we assume we know why someone behaved a certain way without knowing the full story, we are doing this.
What is making an assumption?
True or False: Protecting your peace means avoiding everyone who might have a negative opinion about you.
What is False?
True or False: Sharing something about another person is not gossip if the information is true
What is False?
Even true information can become gossip when it is unnecessary, disrespectful, or shared without a legitimate reason
True or False: You can make everyone understand and approve of your recovery choices if you explain yourself well enough
What is False?
You discover that someone has been talking about you. You want to immediately tell several other people what happened. What would be a healthier alternative?
What is pause, calm down, and decide whether the situation actually needs to be addressed?
True or False: If someone's behavior doesn't make sense to us, we automatically know their motivation.
What is False?
Completely withdrawing from supportive people because you're afraid they might hear gossip can become what?
What is isolation?
Someone says, "I heard that he relapsed, and honestly, I'm not surprised because he's always been unreliable." What are two things happening here?
What are sharing someone else's personal information and judging them?
Someone makes a negative comment about your recovery. Instead of arguing, you decide to continue focusing on your goals. What skill are you practicing?
What is letting go of what you cannot control?
Someone tells you, "Did you hear what people are saying about you?" What could you say to avoid getting pulled into the conversation?
What is "I'd rather not get involved in that"?
Someone misses several groups. Another client says, "They obviously don't care about recovery." What is missing from that statement?
What is knowledge of the person's actual circumstances?
Someone's opinion about you is upsetting you. What can you focus on instead?
What are your values, goals, choices, and recovery?
A client says, "I don't know if this is true, so I'm going to tell everyone but make sure they know it's just a rumor." Is this still contributing to gossip?
What is Yes?
Adding "I don't know if it's true" does not make spreading the rumor appropriate.
Name three things you can control when dealing with gossip
What are your response, your own behavior, and where you put your attention/energy?
A person is spreading a rumor that directly affects your relationship with them. What is generally more productive than discussing the person with everyone else?
What is addressing the issue respectfully with the person involved?
Why can assumptions contribute to conflict?
What is because we may react to a story we created rather than the facts of the situation?
What is the difference between protecting your privacy and isolating yourself?
What is protecting privacy means setting healthy boundaries, while isolation means cutting yourself off from potentially supportive relationships because of fear or discomfort?
Someone tells you something personal about another client and asks you not to repeat it. What is the safest response?
What is respect their privacy and not pass the information along?
A rumor about you is bothering you all day. What is one question you can ask yourself to determine whether you need to act?
What is "Is there something within my control that actually needs to be addressed?"
You hear a rumor about someone in treatment. You don't know whether it's true, and you have no direct involvement in the situation. What is the healthiest choice?
What is not spreading it or making assumptions?
Instead of saying, "I know exactly why they did that," what is a more appropriate way to approach an unclear situation?
What is "I don't know the full story, so I shouldn't assume"?
You realize that you have been spending hours thinking about what other people might be saying about you. What could you redirect your energy toward?
What are things you can actually control and actions that support your recovery?