Gossip is all around us, and sometimes it can be hard not to get sucked in, especially when others are piling on. But the truth is, we never feel good about it afterwards. There is a kind of aftertaste.

The Vedic perspective is that gossip comes from stress. It’s not really about the subject of the gossip. It’s a report on the state of consciousness of the person speaking. When someone gossips, they’re showing the stress they’re carrying and how it needs to leak out somewhere by being projected onto others. In that way, gossip is never actually personal.

A helpful tool we can use in these moments is the phrase: “Well, they can’t be all bad.” If someone is speaking negatively about another person, you can gently introduce that perspective. It diffuses the situation and usually makes the conversation switch gears, bringing the energy back toward compassion.

When we embody a different way of being ourselves, one that meets gossip with compassion and sees stress for what it is, we model a way of living that others can feel and learn from. And if we slip back into old gossiping habits, that’s okay. Notice how it feels, taste that aftertaste, and let it build your resolution to choose differently next time.

With a regular practice like Vedic Meditation, over time, gossip starts to lose its appeal. It feels like junk food instead of a nourishing meal. Our speech becomes more uplifting and clarifying instead of criticizing and dividing. If you’re interested in learning a technique that enhances life in this way, my next course is October 23-26. Reach out for more details!