BEEF

If you have not seen the series on Netflix entitled Beef, I’d like you encourage you to watch it. You may not like the first episode, which made me stop watching it. But after knowing that it earned awards, it made me curious. I watched it and it was well worth the time.

It was indeed worth it. Why? Because there is something beneath the show that taught me something. It may not be the intention of the creators or it may really be the hidden message of the show. Nevertheless, I find one key message that we could all learn from.

Communication. Speaking up. Yup. It is not just about listening which is now has earned so much attention that to become a good communicator, we need to become a good listener. This is all good. Listening intently helps us to understand each other better. In effect, it helps us create a better relationship with one another.

The other side of the coin? Speaking up. What if we listen intently but we are hearing something else? What if we never say what we really want to say? Even if we engage in listening intently, what is there to listen to when no one wants to speak up?

Most of the scenes in the series are caused by miscommunication, or telling half-truths, or just really not saying anything at all. And everything went to chaos. From a simple road rage to kidnapping and death. All not because of the events but because the two main characters did not speak up. They did not say what they want to those who want to listen.

Let’s look back on our lives. How often do we say what we want to say to our loved ones? Of course, being careful not to hurt them. Could we even count the number of situations when we had in one hand? And while we are thinking about it, what could have prevented us from saying what we want to say?

Maybe we are scared to hurt them? Afraid that we might be seen as fragile and vulnerable? Thinking that we might embarrass ourselves because we might be wrong? What could it be?

Whatever the reasons are, it has the same results. The message never reached the listener. The one who wants to listen will never understand the one who keeps it in. How could that form a better relationship?

It is like what I always say…people are willing to lend a hand. All we need to do is reach out and grab. If we do not, then the one trying to help would not be able to do anything. We need to help ourselves first before someone can help us.

And in this series, what it says, for me, is for us to speak up. Say what we need and want to say. Of course, again, in a nice way. No one will know what is on our mind. They can keep guessing. They will never get it right. Maybe some. But, wouldn’t it be better to just say it instead of playing mind games?

To summarize, listening intently is not gonna help if people do not say anything. We need to express ourselves and make it known so people can help us accordingly. Holding it back does not help. Let it be known. Say it. Just say it.