Our Words Matter

The words we use to communicate contain energy.

Before you check out if this sounds too “woo woo” for you, let me explain.

I studied communication in college. This does NOT make me an expert, it makes me somewhat educated on the topic.

How we communicate with one another goes WELL beyond the words we use.

Our tones, facial expressions, eye contact, whether we are passive/active listening, and body language matter - and we haven’t even touched on the words that actually come out of our mouths.

How we speak to one another and the words we use when speaking matters.

Take for example the word “love”.

This word carries positive and caring energy, compared to the word “hate” which carries a negative, hurtful energy.

Becoming a mother has changed the way I speak. And I’m not meaning “baby talk”.

I tread very lightly when I speak around my son, Micah, and he's two and a half years old. I think five times before I allow the words to escape my mouth.

How I speak to my son now can and will be how he speaks to himself internally and to others externally.

Raising children is a full time plus job. And how we communicate to one another goes well beyond the relationship with our children. If you are work in the corporate world and write emails often, you proof read your emails. If you are someone who is in public speaking, you review and edit your presentation and what you are going to say before you even begin. So why should it be any different when we speak to our children, our spouse, our extended family, our friends, our neighbors, or that random person you run into from time to time at the gym or coffee shop. It shouldn't be any different. How we speak, the words we use, the tone we use, and the body language we have MATTERS. You can make or break someone's day with a statement. You can lift someone up or shove them face first into the dirt by what you say and what you do. My mother always taught me: "Treat others how you want to be treated." And how we treat others - with our words or our actions - MATTERS. Sure, I have had my fair share of foot in my mouth, I wish I could take back that sentence moments in my life. And I am sure they will happen again (just ask my husband). But we should check ourselves before we wreck ourselves. I am no where near perfect, but I am learning. I am growing. I am changing. Be someone who speaks with compassion. Be someone who speaks truth. Be someone who speaks to others how you wish to be spoken to. We live in a world where hateful spoken and written language is a norm. This should not be. We hold the power to make change, big and small, with the words we use. Your very next statement can be one of change and love - choose your words mindfully. TANCKS for reading.