This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, MARS Wrigley Confectionery. All opinions are mine alone. #flavorvote2019 #CollectiveBias
But for some people, sharing one’s opinions and thoughts doesn’t come quite so easily. Here are some tips for sharing your opinion easily, openly, and in the best way possible.
Figure out when an opinion is better left unshared
It’s tough for me not to share my opinion in certain situations, especially if I feel strongly about something. Sometimes I kind of go on autopilot and say what pops into my head, but not every single thought needs to be shared. So when it comes to speaking up and being vocal about your opinion, it’s helpful to know when to dial it back. Some signs you might want to keep your opinion to yourself:
– It’s too late or it’ll only hurt feelings without causing meaningful change (saying you liked the blue dress better when someone’s already left the house in the red one or your sister already bought her wedding dress and is in love but you don’t like it)
– Sharing it will truly cause more harm than good. There’s nothing wrong with having a more negative or critical opinion on something, but some things can be better left unsaid. If the thing you’re going to say will just hurt feelings or worsen a situation, you might want to keep it to yourself and mull over if it’s worth sharing.
– You’re not prepared to back it or explain it. If you’ve got a particularly strong opinion, you should be prepared to explain or elaborate on it if questioned. If you aren’t ready to do that, maybe wait a bit and think about if it’s something you truly want to share.
If you’re still in school, start by speaking up in class
This is an especially important and handy thing to do in college. Not only will it usually benefit your grade, but it’ll also help you get comfortable with sharing your thoughts. In classes involving debates, critical thinking, and other insights, speaking up can be invaluable and even fun.
Sometimes it’s easier to share your thoughts in class if you write down some major points first. That way, if you get a little bit tripped up you can just glance down at your notebook.
Spend time with people who value (and ask for) your input
One of the basic, most important parts of any friendship, relationship, or even workplace atmosphere is being surrounded by people who value your opinions and insights. If you find that you’re surrounded by people who don’t value or ask for your input (even on the small stuff, like where to grab dinner), you might want to bring it up or find a new group.
Some signs your opinion is valued is if it’s asked for regularly, what you propose or suggest is at least considered or discussed instead of brushed off, and if you’re able to explain and elaborate on your opinion without interruption.
Learn how to frame feedback and criticism
There’s definitely a nice middle-ground between sugarcoating something and being a bit too bluntly, brutally honest. So when it comes to framing feedback and criticism, be truthful but try to be balanced in your thoughts. There’s no need to share a harsh opinion in the middle of a very light discussion with friends.
Remember to keep your thoughts relevant, too. No need to criticize something that’s totally unrelated to the topic at hand. And there’s no need to bring up any past mistakes or things you didn’t love if it’s not relevant. If you think the meal someone cooked for you needs more salt, no need to bring up the five other dishes they’ve made in the past that you thought were too salty. Keep your opinion focused on the moment and present subject at hand unless you need to bring up other things in order to better explain your thoughts.
Remember to use “I think” and “I feel,” since they’re opinions after all. It can help reinforce that your opinion isn’t a fact.
Practice by writing reviews for books, eateries, and movies
I love love love reviewing things! It helps me keep track of things I like and don’t and it helps me to put my opinions into words. If I didn’t like a book, what about it didn’t I like? If I loved a movie, what about it did I love so much? If you give a restaurant five stars, what qualifications did it hit out of the park?
Writing reviews can serve as a way for you to track your own movie, travel, and book history while also helping you learn how to form your opinions and share them. Some of my favorite places to review are Goodreads, Rotten Tomatoes, and Yelp.
Start small by sharing your opinion in competitions, polls, and surveys
So sharing your opinion is rewarding and you can sometimes even get rewarded for it! Currently, you can share your thoughts while also trying out new M&M’S candies. Win-win-win! You can help decide which of the limited edition flavors will stay in stores.
You can try them all and vote for your favorite flavor! The new internationally-inspired flavors: Mexican Jalapeño Peanut, English Toffee Peanut, & Thai Coconut Peanut. Vote and you could win a trip around the world.* No Purchase Necessary. 50 US/DC, 18+ only. Ends 5/17/19. Rules can be found here.
The sweepstakes end 5/17/19 and if you’re 13 or older you can vote for your favorite flavor by texting VOTE to 84444 (Message and data rates may apply) OR by visiting www.flavorvote.mms.com. If you are 18 years or older, you can vote and enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to the three countries of flavor inspiration (England, Thailand, and Mexico).
The flavors you can vote for include:
-Mexican Jalapeño Peanut: Spicy and chocolate-y with a slight green bell pepper taste; first you taste chocolate and then there’s a slight kick
– Thai Coconut Peanut: A sweet and slightly savory taste
– English Toffee Peanut: A sweet, rich, and cozy sort of taste; I thought these had the best crunch
There’s something awesome about being able to be heard and when it’s combined with trying new flavors of M&M’S candies. Any excuse to vote for something while trying new flavors of anything is a big “YES” in my book. I thought the Thai Coconut Peanut had the prettiest packaging and M&M’S candies colors for sure. But, personally, I’ll be giving my vote to the English Toffee Peanut flavor. I think the toffee works nicely with the peanuts! I like that they all have a nice crunch.
*By sending a text, you authorize CFA/Mars Wrigley Confectionery to send an autodialed reply text to the number you provide. Consent is not a condition of purchase. For every text you initiate, you will receive up to 6 automated reply texts. Message and data rates may apply.
Learn how to accept someone else’s opinion and feedback
Being able to dish it is just as important as being able to take it. Remember that just as much as you’re allowed to share an opinion, so are others. And sometimes you won’t like it, but that’s OK, too! Ultimately, the key is to remember that everyone thinks differently and perceives the world in their own way. And your opinion on someone else’s opinion is…well, an opinion, too.
You can score these M&M’S candies flavors at a special display in certain 7-Eleven stores around the US.
