To Mute or Unmute

Learning when to protect others and when to speak

On a Telegram platform where the lord has been blessing us, the moderator, Prophetess Hannah Agyei would keep reminding members: “Please mute yourself if you’re in a public place or noisy area so you don’t disturb others.” That simple instruction struck me and I began to relate it to life. In life, we’re all “microphones.” The things happening to us in the form of stress, disappointments, frustrations, and even our joys carry sound. And unless we learn when to mute and when to unmute, we risk broadcasting noise to people who shouldn’t be hearing it, or bottling up truths that someone needs to hear.

The Noises and Voices of Life

Here are some of the “noises” we unconsciously carry:

Frustrations at work: the manager who embarrassed you, the deal that fell through, the coworker’s betrayal.

Financial stress: unpaid bills, debt collectors calling, an uncertain future.

Unhealed wounds: childhood trauma, betrayal by a close friend, a broken heart.

Anger from conflict: an argument with your spouse, tension with a sibling, harsh words from a parent.

Excessive comparison: scrolling social media, feeling inadequate next to others’ “perfect” lives.

Exhaustion and burnout: feeling invisible, overworked, and underappreciated.

If we’re not careful, these noises spill out of us and into our homes, our friendships, even our children’s lives. A parent who comes home angry from work may snap at a child who did nothing wrong. A leader frustrated by church politics may begin projecting cynicism on his team.

The other extreme: muting too much

On the other hand, muting all our struggles isn’t always noble. It can create a false peace while slowly eating us alive. A husband who always “mutes” his stress to “protect” his wife might end up distant and emotionally unavailable. A friend who hides her pain to keep from “burdening” others may end up isolated and depressed.

Finding the balance: Responsible Muting and Unmuting

So how do we navigate this tension? Think of it like audio engineering: Mute when your raw emotions would wound or confuse innocent people. Children, students, or coworkers don’t need to absorb your unresolved pain. Unmute when your voice can bring clarity, healing, or necessary accountability. This might mean talking to a trusted friend, a mentor, a counselor, or God in prayer. You’re not muting your truth; you’re muting your timing and audience.

Examples of wise Muting/Unmuting

A father frustrated at work “mutes” his anger before stepping through the door, takes a few deep breaths, and later “unmutes” with a mentor over coffee. A teacher “mutes” her financial stress in class but “unmutes” with a financial advisor to get help. A wife “mutes” her disappointment during a public event but “unmutes” with her husband later in a private, calm conversation.

Ask yourself three questions before speaking: If you can say “yes” to the third question, you’re probably in the right place to unmute.

• Audience:  Who am I about to speak to? Can they handle this?
• State: Am I calm enough to speak responsibly, or still too raw?
• Purpose: Will sharing this help heal, solve, or clarify or am I just offloading?

Reflection Questions

• Whose life might you be “broadcasting” your noise into unintentionally?
• What’s one area where you need to “mute” to protect others?
• Who is your safe space to “unmute” with someone who can handle your raw truth without judgment?

Closing thoughts

Muting and unmuting aren’t opposites. They’re two parts of the same wisdom: the ability to guard innocence without silencing authenticity. Like good music, our lives need both sound and silence to make a melody worth hearing.