Effective compassion is rooted in words. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., engaged in compassionate talking. He was direct, open and deep.

There’s no law stopping someone from telling a coworker he has bad breath, or a friend she texts too much, or a spouse their outfit isn’t flattering.  Although people have the right to offer such criticisms, they often hold their tongues.  Verbal restraint isn’t always ideal, but even common communication challenges like these can inform a newly trending social imperative—free speech.