Seriously, Did You Really Need to Say That?

“Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.” — Miguel Angel Ruiz

Sometimes we can blurb things without thinking. However, when we make these slips we can do some serious damage.

Words are powerful and we hold the power to use them to impact negatively or positively on another.

Here are a few pointers to clarify if you should speak your mind or not:

What you are about to say might be the truth but is it necessary? We sometimes feel that we should speak the truth, no matter what, but sometimes that is not the case. Besides, whose truth is it anyway? Try to ascertain if this particular truth is essential to the persons growth or safety and not just your ‘IMHO’ — if not, put a sock in it if it’s going to hurt them!
Is what you are saying necessary or are you just trying to be clever or right? It’s difficult to try to bite your tongue and not give into making yourself right or fighting a point to the bitter end. See if you can stop yourself if you can sense an argument brewing over a difference of opinion. If you are trying to show off your incredible IQ, don’t. If it’s for pure show-off purposes then I assure you, no-one likes a smartass. Best to zip it.
Do you know — that split second before the words roll off your tongue — that you are about to hurt the person/s you are speaking to? If the answer is ‘yes’, then no matter how much you feel justified to say it…think twice. Just remember that if you intentionally are trying to cause someone pain it will visit you back (and some believe that it will be as much as 10 fold — or as little as 3 — but, shucks, who needs that?) in some way.

Try to see if you can identify unnecessary criticisms or remarks when you are interacting with your fellow human — no matter if they are friend, foe, colleague, family, partner, etc.

Next step — see if you can be impeccable with your word instead of blurting out your opinions.

Good luck!

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