Words

Words are useful tools but they can also be extraordinarily powerful weapons. We should be mindful of our speech to others as well as to ourselves. We need to endeavor to keep what we say positive and refrain from negative statements whenever possible. Focusing on the positive helps our relationships with others and in our relationship with ourselves, too.

Encouragement helps those close to us to not only bolster their self-esteem, but to have confidence in themselves. Positive reinforcement gives us the same boost to pursue our dreams and passions in life. Negative statements and criticism have the opposite effect of leaving us feeling discouraged, unworthy and lacking in self-confidence. We need to be mindful of this influence in our daily lives if we want to remain positive and motivated.

There was a television commercial a few years ago to remind parents that - words could hurt as much as a fist! This is true if you stop to think about it. When we belittle and criticize others, we can damage their self-esteem and self-confidence. This has the obvious effect of undermining our relationships with others and can alienate those we look to for support for ourselves.

Most of us rarely give much thought to what we say to others until we find we have placed our foot firmly in our mouth! An innocent slip of the tongue or a thoughtless comment, innocently spoken, can do far more damage than we realize at the moment, to ourselves, others, and our relationships. We need to become mindful of any propensity for these sorts of gaffs and try to form the habit of thinking before we speak.

This can be a little tricky at first but, if you're like me, it's well worth the effort. I've gotten myself into more trouble than I care to remember by engaging my mouth before engaging my brain! Often these are innocent, although thoughtless, comments we let slip from the tongue before we consider the impact on others and the consequences of our remarks. Later, in hindsight, we can be left to feel remorse for our thoughtless comments, even when no harm was intended.

We need to remember the power of our words and try to keep them positive, empowering, and encouraging to ourselves as well as to others. These are tools we not only use to exchange ideas, but also to convey our feelings. Our speech, we need to remember, also has the power to hurt feelings and even damage relationships irreparably. This is particularly true if we speak in anger. Always remember that our mouths can be like a firearm – once the statements are let loose, just like a bullet, they cannot be brought back again. Even if we meant no harm and were speaking merely from the heat of the moment, the damage is done.

I'm relatively certain that most of us have said things throughout the course of our lives that we bitterly regret. I remember things I said in anger that still make me cringe today when I remember them – the consequences of a bad temper. All the regret in the world can't bring those words back and even when forgiven, I'm left feeling rather ashamed of myself. It's a bitter lesson to learn, but one that has helped me to keep a rein on my thoughtless tongue.

There is incredible power in words. So, we need to use them wisely. I think it says something in the Bible like – A kind word turneth away wrath. If we want to improve our relationships, our attitude and see the world as a brighter place, it is imperative that we become mindful of the power of words and to use them judiciously and productively. Remember to be kind with your words – we all want to be accepted. Also remember, in your self-talk, to be kind to yourself, too.

We can't possibly feel good about ourselves if we continually give ourselves negative messages. If you make a mistake, say you made a mistake. Don't cajole yourself with statements such as: I'm stupid, I always mess up, I'm a failure, I should have known I couldn't do that!

When we use labels in this way rarely does anything good come from it. More often than not, statements such as these only leave us feeling more discouraged, erode our self-esteem and our self-confidence while undermining our motivation and destroying our determination to continue to pursue our goals. Remember, we are an odd species and we tend to learn more from our failures than our successes.

Don't let your words undermine you and don't use them to undermine others. Use speech with kindness and encouragement. I think you will find that not only will your attitude and your self-image improve, but your relationships will as well. No one likes to keep company with a person that continually criticizes and belittles them. Can you blame them? Try kindness and remember to engage the brain before putting your mouth in gear. I think you'll see a definite improvement in your outlook and your relationships. Also, your friends will thank you for it!

Remember to use your words to Think Positive.

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