‘I have a dream’. This line was the start of an incredibly inspiring speech by Martin Luther King Jr. at the height of the civil rights movement. This quote would become a defining quote of the civil rights movement and the speech is among the most iconic in American history.
‘You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right’. These words were spoken by the incredibly loving and respectable Rosa Parks. Rosa, who refused to give up her bus seat in 1955 to allow a white man to sit, even though she was seated in the “coloured’ zone. Rosa, whose desire for racial equality still feed and inspire us now.
Words are incredibly powerful and can have a long lasting effect on society and on the world, the two examples above are testament to that. However you don’t have to be a civil rights leader to be able to impact people with your words. People are impacted daily by the words of others. For some it’s a no for a job application or a no for a date request. For others it’s a yes to a marriage proposal or yes to an opportunity of a lifetime. We are told yes and no numerous times a day. It happens to us all. Sometimes our proposal is accepted. Sometimes it is rejected. It’s part of life.
Pick your words carefully
The words you choose in an argument can either repair the relationship or completely destroy it. Similarly the words you choose on a date can grant you another date or can end it right there and then. The same with a job interview. In fact this applies to every situation. Your words can either have a positive effect or a negative effect. The negative effect being you leaving empty handed with nothing gained but everything lost.
It all stems from who you are and what you stand for. If you are someone who is very compassionate and caring, it’s highly likely that the words you use in your daily life are supportive and nurturing towards others and yourself. On the other hand if you are someone who struggles with their emotions and mental state then it’s likely that the words you use are destructive to yourself and others, whether it’s intentional or not.
Pick your words carefully. Actions speak louder than words, but words still speak. You never know what battles other people are facing. Before you say anything that could be destructive, ask yourself if there is another way to phrase it. The impact our words have on others is far greater than we could imagine, so use them to support others, not hinder them. Be a beacon of light, not a cloud of dark. Pick your words carefully.
Self-love is not selfish
The way you talk to others is reflective of the way you talk to yourself. The more you nourish yourself with your words, the more you nourish others with your words. Whereas the more you harm yourself with your words, the more your harm others with your words.
For example someone with a negative self-talk is more likely to have negative habits and a negative mindset. This person is more likely to therefore talk negatively to others – it’s a reflection of oneself. On the other hand those with a positive self-talk are more likely to have positive habits and mindsets. Therefore impacting the people around them positively too.
It should be noted that a positive self-talk does not mean pretending everything is ok when it’s not and not criticising yourself. Instead a positive self-talk is one where you constantly seek the most positive result for your growth. That can mean convincing yourself to do the difficult things that you know are right for you to evolve. This conversation with yourself can be difficult and uncomfortable, but it is needed to help you achieve the most positive result for your growth.
Self-love is not selfish. By feeding yourself first you can then focus on feeding others. How can you feed other people if you yourself are starving? Mind your words with others but more importantly mind your words with yourself. As all things do, it starts with yourself. The more your words nurture you, the more you can use your words to nurture others.
Be the person you needed when you were young. Be a role model. Pick your words carefully.
Thanks for reading.
Tony.
