Most people speak without consciousness. Unaware of the true power of our words, we let thoughts, opinions, judgments and beliefs roll off our tongues without considering the impact they can have.
Successful people, on the other hand, are conscious of the thoughts they think and the words they speak – both about themselves and others. They know that words are powerful. Words can destroy relationships, lose sales and start wars. Words can just as easily be used to build self-esteem and self-confidence, nurture relationships and turn dreams into reality.
Successful people make it a habit to speak with impeccability. It means speaking from your highest self, with intention and integrity. It means aligning your words with your vision and goals.
What You Say Impacts Others
Your words put out energy and a message into the world – and they create a reaction in the people listening to what you have to say. You can uplift, support and encourage the people in your life as easily as you can stir up feelings of fear, anxiety, hostility and hopelessness. The choice is in your words and how you choose to use them.
You also are affected by the words you use. The reaction others experience in response to your message is typically returned to you multiplied. If I express love and acceptance to you, you will experience love for me. If I express judgment and contempt for you, you will judge me back. Do you want to be on the receiving end of loving and supportive messages or critical, negative and judgmental messages?
Speaking negatively also brings us down and focuses our attention on what we don’t want in life. Words have energy. Speaking negatively releases poison into the river of energy that is set up to bring us what we truly want.
Cultivating Impeccability
Here are four tips for speaking with greater impeccability.
1. Commit to being impeccable in your speech when talking to others. Before speaking, ask yourself whether what you want to say will advance your vision, mission and goals? Will it uplift the people who hear what you’re saying? Will it dissolve fear and create safety and trust?
2. Vow to be as honest as you can when interacting with others. Telling the truth keeps you in integrity. Lying separates you from your highest self and erodes others’ trust in you. Lying is the product of low self-esteem – the belief that you are not enough to get what you want. It’s also fueled by the false belief that you can’t handle the consequences of people knowing the truth about you and what you think.
3. Make the intention to uplift every person you interact with in some small way. You might do so by appreciating something about the other person or simply by using uplifting, positive words.
4. Refrain from gossiping. This destructive habit robs you of a clear mind, allowing others’ opinions and judgments to color your feelings toward and expectations of others. When you’re with people who want to gossip, change the subject, keep quiet, or walk away from the conversation. Other alternatives include clearly stating that you don’t want to participate in gossiping or saying something positive about the person who is the subject of the gossip.
What Do You Want to Create?
Everything you say produces an effect in the world. You are constantly creating something – positive or negative – with your words. Before you speak, think about what you want to create … and choose your words accordingly.
