Think about it-would you want to stay with someone who was constantly calling you names and saying mean things? Of course not! Your words could absolutely destroy your relationship. Speaking of relationships, the more negative words that are spoken to another person over time, the more it damages them-and also the relationship between the two of you. And when that happens, more negativity ensues, and the conversation (and relationship) can get ugly. If you automatically start criticizing and judging another person, they are going to get defensive. ⌄ Scroll down to continue reading article ⌄ It’s easy to jump to conclusions, get angry, and say things that may or may not be true. Too many people judge others before they’ve heard the whole story. If it’s a time, say, when you are at work or a company party, then it’s best to keep your mouth shut and talk later. You need to assess whether you are about to say is appropriate for the kind of relationship you have with a certain person.īy the same token, you also need to think about the situation. It’s one thing to explode in anger to your sibling, best friend, or spouse, but it’s another thing to do it to your boss or another superior.
Your Relationship With Other People (or Situation) Doesn’t Warrant Your Words As I stated above, you should instead make sure that what they said warrants your emotional outburst because many times it doesn’t. Our automatic instinct is to explode.īut that could very well be an overreaction. When we think someone said or did something hurtful to us, our emotions tend to go through the roof. So, make sure you talk with them to see what they actually mean before you assume anything. Sometimes, people say things that are interpreted as the opposite of what they intended. Then, as a result, you might lash out at them because of it.īut not everyone has the intention of hurting you. You might be upset at someone because you thought they had intentions to hurt you. You Might Have Assumed intention on the Other Person’s Part And then when the emotional part of your brain doesn’t act as a filter for your words, you might say things you don’t mean.ĥ. You see, when you are angry, it shuts down the logical part of your brain and then your emotions rule yourself. And after you calmed down, you might have thought, “gee, I didn’t mean it like that.” I’m sure you’ve been angry at someone and said something that hurt them. Your Emotions Can Make You Say Things You Don’t Mean So, it’s important to make sure that the words you use help people instead of hurting them. Words Can Hurt (or Help) PeopleĪs I mentioned, words have power, and part of this power can be good or “evil.” What you say to a person can hurt them-emotionally and mentally.Īnd even though the saying goes “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,” it is not true-words DO hurt. The point is that if you make the words nicer, then they will not hold as much negativity. So, over the years, we have adopted different words and phrases like “special needs.” But since then, people have started using it as an insult. Basically, it’s changing words to nicer ones.įor example, back in the 1970s, people used to use the word “retarded” to describe a person who was mentally slower than average. I’m sure that you are aware of the politically correct language movement. ⌄ Scroll down to continue reading article ⌄ 2. They affect not only yourself but also how people perceive you and what kind of person they think you are.
But beyond that, she was teaching us that the words you use determine your character. I thought she just wanted us to be lady-like, but there was an even deeper reason. When I was growing up, my mother taught me and my sisters not to use swear words. If you are in the latter category, then you will want to seriously think about these very important reasons why you should think before you say something you shouldn’t. Some people may have been taught by their parents to think before words come out of their mouths.
And if you want to learn how to think before you speak, you have come to the right place.īut first, let’s talk about the 11 reasons why you should think before you speak. However, some people do it more regularly than others.
It’s like something paralyzes our rational and logical brain, and in the process, our emotional brain lets words come out of our mouths that never should have. Sometimes we get so emotional about something that we forget to think before we speak. You have said things before that you wish you hadn’t-and wanted to take back.