“Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.” – Napolean Hill, best-selling author, Presidential advisor
Think about the power of your words today.
In face-to-face conversations, on the phone, in emails, on social media, at meetings – what will your words do?!
Your words have a profound impact on people – Maya Angelou said it best:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Click to Tweet
But your words also influence your own attitude, actions, and personal development. Think about the words you use every day about your work, your commitments, your responsibilities.
Zig Ziglar (author, salesman, and motivational speaker) is one example of a person who changed the way he spoke – and he motivated millions of people around the globe with his outlook on life.
One of my favorite quotes from ZIg Zaglar is, “I don’t have to go to work; I GET to go to work!”
Another great example of his positive outlook and words came across when his plane was delayed by a few hours. Instead of giving in to anxiety, he said he was grateful that the airline took the time to spot and fix a problem that could have resulted in something much worse than being delayed by a few hours.
I also discovered a recent podcast from Michael Hyatt, “How Small Changes in Your Vocabulary Can Make a Big Impact on Your Life.” I hope you check it out and gain some inspiration from it.
What I took away from Michael Hyatt’s podcast is that long after words are spoken, or written, they will have a lasting impact on your personal development and on others.
So, think about how you use your words today. With your words you can:
- Set a vision
- Ask a question
- Wrestle with a problem
- Launch a project
- Calm a customer
- Direct a teammate
- Change the direction of a conversation
- Give clarity
- Lead to new paths of inquiry
- Encourage
- Affirm
- Appreciate
- Establish your reputation
- Argue for what is right
- Resist what is wrong
- Set something in motion
- Inspire a change in someone’s life
To wrap things up, let these 5 quotes inspire how you use your words today to transform your personal development:
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” – Mother Teresa Click to Tweet
“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” – Frank Outlaw
“Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds.” – Elie Wiesel
“If someone gave you 10 cents for every time you spoke a kind word and collected 5 cents for every unkind word you spoke, would you be rich or poor?” – Anonymous
“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and help them to become what they are capable of being.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Lord, help me to know what to say, when to say it, how to say it, and to realize I don’t have to say everything that I know.” – Prayer of the Ages (one I’ve needed to use often!)
How will you use your words today?
