Life Lessons Series: Six of One Dozen of the Other- "Choose Your Words Carefully"
Introduction
A colleague of mine years ago forwarded an email that had these 38 phrases you’d like to say at work. Still makes me laugh and that was more than 20 years ago. (Be warned, some of these phrases may be offensive and are not ones that I recommend using!)
I have had the opportunity to work for some amazing people in my career and learn from the behavior they modeled. Two of them stand out having mastered the “gift of the gab” in very difficult situations; effectively managing upwardly, managing unreasonable customers, managing disgruntled employees and vendors alike. Always choosing their words carefully. I am thankful for the lessons I have learned. Understanding how effective the choice of words can be in these situations has enabled me to choose words carefully that I speak into my own life both personally and professionally.
This Is How Powerful Your Words Are - Be Careful What You Speak Into Your Life
A colleague of mine shared this motivational speech by Fearless Soul “This Is How Powerful Your Words Are - Be Careful What You Speak Into Your Life” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlDnhQl1VEQ.
I found it to be well worth the six minutes to watch and very much liked the message:
Speak positive things into your life, strong things, speak love and happiness into your life and you'll notice more love and happiness. Be good to others and you may see more good from others.
Sticks and stones may break your bones but your words can shatter your dreams. Your beliefs, thoughts and words will determine your destiny.
Daily affirmations are helpful because they reprogram your mind, your thoughts and beliefs. Write them down. Read them out loud every morning. If they get old freshen them up to something more powerful and meaningful.
Transcript
“Your words mixed with your beliefs blend to become your reality. What you speak over your life is what your life will become. If you're always talking about how you're stuck where you are, how you can't find a way to get out of a situation you're in, how you never get any luck, how you'll never be wealthy. Know you're right you'll never have those things if that's what you say and that's what you believe. If you don't believe it you won't even try to get it.
Instead of saying I don't know how to do it, say I am committed to learn how to do it.
Instead of saying I always procrastinate and never get anything done, say I am going to find something that matters to me more than anything and then I am going to get the job done.
Instead of saying I'm a failure, say I felt I've learned the lesson and when I become a huge success that failure is going to make for one hell of a story.
Instead of saying my best days are behind me, say my best is yet to come.
Instead of believing others are born lucky or with special gifts, know that you are capable of anything.
Know that you can study and commit to learning from great people. Know that you can become a great person in your own right.
Every day look yourself in the mirror and say I am a great person. I am a kind person. I am strong. I am capable of anything. I am growing more each day. I am committed. I am determined. I have no limits. I can have the health and the body of my choice. I will have the health and the body of my choice. I will have the wealth of my choice. I do deserve abundance. I am worthy. I am more than worthy. I can make a huge difference in other's lives. I will make that difference.
Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny. When you start blending your beliefs and your words together, they become so powerful you can move mountains. You are the creator of your destiny.
It starts with the words you speak into your life. Speak positive things into your life, strong things, speak love and happiness into your life and you'll notice more love and happiness. Be good to others and you may see more good from others. Speak your dreams into existence. Believe your dreams will become reality. Act and live as though they are and they so will be.
Muhammad Ali said he will be the greatest and he became the greatest. He had no doubt in his mind. This is the same level of certainty you should speak about your dreams. I am healthy, I am wealthy, I am wise. Opportunities are everywhere. Money flows with ease. Joy is everywhere. I am attracting such amazing people into my life. I am blessed. I am surrounded by blessings. I have more than enough. I am full of energy. I am strong. I am fit. I am such a positive influence to those around me. I have amazing friends. I am abundant. I am constantly growing my income. I am constantly growing myself. I am constantly getting healthier, stronger and better. My relationships are getting stronger every day.
Sticks and stones may break your bones but your words can shatter your dreams. Your beliefs, thoughts and words will determine your destiny. Whatever you believe is your limit is your limit. Every day look yourself in the mirror and say I am a great person. I am a kind person. I am strong. I am capable of anything. I am growing more each day. I am committed. I am determined. I have no limits. I can have the health and the body of my choice. I will have the health and the body of my choice. I can have the wealth of my choice. I will have the wealth of my choice. I do deserve abundance. I am worthy. I am more than worthy. I can make a huge difference in other's lives. I will make that difference.
Daily affirmations are helpful because they reprogram your mind, your thoughts and beliefs. Some of the most successful people on earth practice daily affirmations. If you're doing it consistently every single day in the morning before you start your day you will begin to develop new beliefs and your life will start to change before your eyes. If it's not natural at first, if you feel like the words aren't believable stick with it. The goal is to feel as though you already have the things you want as you speak the words. Feel as though you are already that person whatever words work for you. Write them down. Your own affirmations and read them every day. That's the key – repetition and feeling the words. If they get old freshen them up to something more powerful and meaningful.”
The Best and the Worst
After watching the You Tube “This Is How Powerful Your Words Are - Be Careful What You Speak Into Your Life” I reflected on the best and the worst experiences I have had at work with choosing words carefully.
The standouts for the worst examples shared some common traits that included the delivery as much as the words themselves:
Loud Volume
Condescending Tone
Foul Language
Insulting Language
Examples:
“Any monkey can do what you do.”
"Set up 30 minutes on my calendar to train me on everything you do in this department.”
“TELL ME I AM A GREAT BOSS!!!!!”
“I have a f***ing list of the people I will f***ing fire!!
The standouts for the best examples shared some common traits too:
Empathetic Tone
Appropriate/Professional Language
Clear and Concise
Felt a Smile in the Delivery
Examples all of which exhibited proper volume and tone:
Following being publicly yelled at on a conference call by his superior: “Understood Dave. Thank you for clarifying that for me.”
“Thank you for sharing your feedback on ways we can improve. We consider your feedback to be a gift. We will be meeting with our management team to discuss.”
“I genuinely care about the guest experience, after all it is you that keeps our doors open.”
“Absolutely I can help you Mrs. Smith!”
Summary
Choose your words carefully, always. Words have the power to hurt. Often as children, we were taught to respond to a verbal barb by saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Clearly this old saying is not true. Words can wound us deeply. There’s a good chance you remember a time from years ago when someone spoke unkind words to you. Harsh words from a parent, teacher, friend or colleague can linger. Wise people choose their words carefully to others and to themselves.
What is Your Life Lesson….
Can you think of a conversation in which you did not choose your words carefully? Did you suffer a negative outcome as a result?
Do you speak positively in your professional life? Do you speak positively in your personal life?
Do you practice daily affirmations?
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