Sorry, do I have too much of an opinion?

When did having an opinion become something we're afraid to admit? I've noticed something lately: people seem more afraid of having the wrong opinion than they are of having no opinion at all. So many opinions now come with a disclaimer: 'I'm sorry, but…', 'I might get canceled for this, but…', 'Don't get mad at me, but…' Before we even say what we think, we're already preparing for someone to disagree with us, and, in turn, be upset with us. Why do we feel like we have to apologize for voicing an opinion? Story continues below advertisement I think somewhere between social media, cancel culture, screenshots and the fear of being 'wrong,' saying what we believe has become a little riskier. We're no longer just sharing our opinions with the people sitting across from us. We're sharing them with an audience of hundreds, thousands or even millions of people—and we know one sentence can be taken out of context and turned into something entirely different than we intended. But, I think we have it wrong. In fact, I would argue that having no opinion at all is far more concerning. Change does not happen unless someone is willing to speak up. Someone has to be willing to advocate for what they believe in, to challenge what they don't agree with and to be unafraid of having a different opinion. Someone has to be willing to take the risk of voicing an opinion. But, having an opinion does not mean that we have to be unwilling to listen. It doesn't mean that we have to convince everyone else that we're right or refuse to acknowledge when we're wrong. It doesn't mean that having an opinion makes us exempt from consequences. And it certainly doesn't give us permission to be cruel. Our words have weight. They mean something, and sometimes being challenged or held accountable is necessary. But we can either hear that and focus on the fear that comes with it, or we can hear it and see the opportunity. It doesn't have to be scary. It can be beautiful. It can be powerful. Our words can cause change—positive, meaningful, important change. They can make someone feel less alone, give someone the courage to believe in themselves, put words to something someone has struggled to express or inspire someone to see something differently. I don't think the risk of voicing an opinion should be something we run from. I don't want it to be. I hope that it isn't. We need people to have voices—to advocate, to disagree, to challenge, to support, to offer a different perspective, to risk being wrong. We're so worried about the consequences of people speaking, but what are the consequences if everyone stops speaking? We risk losing something far more important. I'm not going to pretend there is no risk in voicing an opinion. There is. But, maybe the answer isn't to become less opinionated, but to become more thoughtful about what we do with the voices we've been given. Be considerate. Be honest. Be kind. Be willing to listen. Be willing to admit when you're wrong. But don't be afraid to speak at all. Our words have weight. They mean something. Maybe we shouldn't be afraid of that. Maybe we should use it.