Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.
Remember that nursery rhyme from when we were little? I recall saying it on the playground to a girl teasing me.
Such bravado coming from such a little being! I was big and bad on the outside, but in my heart I knew the truth – her words hurt worse than any sticks and stones she could have ever thrown.
Words are the most powerful weapon emanating from our being. They’re like a fire – able to surround us with warmth or singe us with their heat. Our words are one of the truest representations of what’s really happening at the core of our being. Because all of us no matter how good we are, can only hold up a facade for so long.
I met a woman recently who spouted nothing but negativity. She was clearly unhappy with herself, and her singular goal in life seemed to be to ensure that no one else in her space was happy. At first I tried to inject some positive energy, offering kindness to her barbed snipes. But I soon tired of the little nicks from her acerbic tongue and decided leaving her space was best.
Soon others joined me, and we formed our own little motley crew that dared to have a good time in spite of the negative energy. What bonded us together initially was not our common interest, but of course our disdain of her. So guess what happened? We became another band of negativity – spending our time talking about what was wrong with her rather than enjoying what was right with our world! I looked up and we had become what we despised most.
We like to believe we’re above the “bad” behavior we see in others, but the truth is it’s in all of us. With the right trigger, we can so easily become fountains of negativity – spewing forth our own brand of judgment and censor. But of course, we’re justified because we’re happy people who are merely making mention of the negativity around us, right?
Afraid I have to call bull crap on that one. The truth is we’re all the same. The hardest thing to control on our body is our tongue. No matter how hard we try, every once in a while our mouth runs away from our brain. You know why? Words are not merely by products of our minds; they are the fruits of our soul. What’s in us will eventually come out.
So what do we do? I’ve no doubt most of us don’t want to be negative people who suck the life out of a room. We want to spread light and love, to be a spark that illuminates rather than a fire that consumes. Here are three things to consider as we wrestle with that flapping fiend in our mouths.
Our first step has to be a right relationship with our Creator. We are beings of mind, body and spirit. How can we be in harmony with ourselves without the right Spirit in control? So stop and ask yourself, who is really running you? Make sure the One is the one in control.
Second, we need a daily dose of positive words and affirmations. The constant barrage of the negative will quickly whittle away our resolve to be a positive force for good. Taking a few moments at the beginning of each day to meditate on an inspirational reading, to be thankful, and to speak kindly to you encourages you to offer the same grace and gratitude to others.
Finally, check your chatter. I read a quote on Facebook that really resonated with me – I like to taste my words before I speak them. My, my, my…how much better off we’d all be if more of us did that!
As I write this I am speaking to my own self, too. I try to be positive every day, but there are times when things around me get the best of me and the negative that’s in me takes hold. When it happens, I’m learning to be less judgmental of me and more patient with the process. With compassion and a firm hand, I gently turn my course back to the good allowing the negative to pass on by.
My prayer each day is that the words from my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in God’s sight. I hope that as we meet along the way that you and I share our light and love, becoming the spark that ignites a renewed sense of hope and optimism. I pray that we are purveyors of peace, living each day in harmony one to another.
Will you join me in trying to keep it positive? I know I can’t be the only one fighting with that foolish thing in my mouth! Let’s encourage each other while keeping it real. We may not be perfect, but if we’re both trying the world is surely a better place.
Drop me a line and let me know what you think! Loving on Me as I Love You! ❤
Will says
Words are powerful! We should definitely use them to build rather than destroy others.
katrinamcghee says
Couldn’t agree more! Thanks for stopping by. K