“You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world’s happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.” – Dale Carnegie
Dale Carnegie’s beautiful words serve as a reminder to choose our words and use our words carefully. Words are powerful, powerful things and can impact people for a lifetime.
A lifetime!
Just as we can lift someone else with carefully spoken words, we can tear them down with carelessly spoken words. I think only the worst sort of person in the world would actually want to tear someone down. More times than not, hateful, careless, and potentially damaging words come from speaking without thinking.
The next time you find yourself on the brink of speaking, ask yourself…
- Is what I’m about to say necessary?
- Is what I’m about to say kind?
- Is what I’m about to say going to cause a smile?
Most importantly…
- If my words stay with this person for the rest of their life, how will that make me feel?
The tongue’s small – but its effects are anything but,
~ Joi
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