Speak the truth.

You've repeatedly thought about how great it would be if you could just transfer information by osmosis. That way, you wouldn't have to put your thoughts into words and people would automatically know where you're coming from. Well, stop dreaming. It's time to wake up--and speak up.

Maybe you tend to keep words to a minimum to avoid risking the rejection of your feelings. On the one hand, that's perfectly understandable. Who likes being vulnerable? On the other hand, keeping quiet hinders the development of the depth and honesty required in every relationship.

"Authentic, honest and real speaking offers us a way to find and express deeper, truer parts of ourselves," says Lee Glickstein, author of Be Heard Now! Tap Into Your Inner Speaker and Communicate With Ease (Broadway, $20). In other words, when you say what's on your mind, you not only let others know how you feel, but you also find out more about yourself.

It's true that opening your mouth to speak what you truly feel will also require you to open your mind and, to some degree, your heart. Scary? Sure. But with all you stand to gain--deeper interpersonal connection, increased trust and greater understanding--it very well may be worth the risk. As the old saying goes: nothing ventured, nothing gained.