Some people love to quote. An inspiring quote. A warning quote. A supportive quote. A funny quote. Using a well timed and appropriate quote can have a great impact on those we are talking to. Especially if we use it to underline the thing we are saying or as an example of the idea we are teaching.
Do you take ownership of your words?
Whether they are the ones we use in a presentation or that we write in an email, do we think carefully of the words we use? If we are asking for a pay rise or a promotion at work. When we are talking to a police officer, after being stopped in our car. Explaining the ‘facts of life’ to a young person. Asking for directions in a place we are unfamiliar with or even having an argument with a loved one.
We usually choose them with a little care.
It is easy to see how we would talk differently, in all these situations. Moreover, it is fair to say that we would choose our words, in certain situations, more carefully than in others. As you can imagine, it would not be a great move to use curse words, when asking your boss for a pay rise. Feeling awful after saying something thoughtlessly to a dear friend.
What about the most important words?
The ones we use to ourselves.
Do we take ownership of them?
Do we choose them with care?
Next time you are chastising yourself. Think of whose words you are using. Because it may be your own voice you hear in your head but take a moment to think about who said this to you in the past? Whose words are they?
Realise that these are not your words.
If you were to use kind words, encouraging words, chosen with care.
What words would you choose to say to yourself?
P.S. Our use of language is important, so save some of the good stuff for yourself.