Ten years ago, I made my first trip to Europe to live and study in Spain. My Spanish brother (he stayed with my family in the US for a year in high school) was showing me around one day, and he asked, “Why do you always look so mad? Maybe you should smile more and people would receive you better.” His actual words were not as polished, as he was a decade out from living in America, but his point was well-received.
Not only is our nonverbal communication powerful, but so is our verbal communication. I used to just speak before actually considering how my words would be taken by the receiver of my message. “He’s annoying.” “I HATE that.” Short quips that I knew I didn’t necessarily mean, but I said them anyway. In my eyes, everyone KNEW I was speaking figuratively. Everyone KNEW my exact thoughts and rationale.
Each one of us acts and performs according to our unique views and experiences. No one has the exact same perspective because we all have different life situations. And how we speak directly effects those around us.
“The Magic of Thinking Big” paints a great picture (the EXACT objective) when it states, “We do not think in words and phrases. We think only in pictures and/or images. Words are the raw materials of thought. When spoken or read, that amazing instrument, the mind, automatically converts words and phrases into mind pictures.”
What the author is saying is that the words we use create pictures in the minds of the people to whom we are speaking. You’re creating ideas, attitudes, literal pictures, in the minds of the people who hear your message. What kinds of pictures are you creating?
“He’s annoying.” “I HATE that.” Thinking back, I was painting an image with a dark background and gloomy feel. NOT my objective in life. I try my best to speak powerfully and effectively to create the coolest, brightest, most animated picture I can possibly create in the minds of those around me.
Before you speak, think about what kind of picture you want to create in the minds of those around you. Challenge yourself to be a “wordsmith,” an artist of verbal communication.
Oh, and enjoy these last few days of 2015. There’s no reason to wait until January 1 to start your resolution!
Spaniard
About the author : cbrenneman
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Three days after the birth of his second child, The Spaniard discusses Fathership (a Spaniard term): his gratitude, his hopes, his plans, and how little he and his wife are sleeping. What does this mean for you? The tale involving Sheetz will make you think about the power of example. The discussion of summer camp and iffy acquaintances will help you watch for good and bad influences. The story in the hospital will alert you to opportunities to make simple, difficult decisions for growth. Whatever your relationship to parenting—past, present, future, never—there are thoughts here to help you put your arms around what matters most to you. Also: The three inspirations for the new baby’s name!
Three days after the birth of his second child, The Spaniard discusses Fathership (a Spaniard term): his gratitude, his hopes, his plans, and how little he and his wife are sleeping. What does this mean for you? The tale involving Sheetz will make you think about the power of example. The discussion of summer camp and iffy acquaintances will help you watch for good and bad influences. The story in the hospital will alert you to opportunities to make simple, difficult decisions for growth. Whatever your relationship to parenting—past, present, future, never—there are thoughts here to help you put your arms around what matters most to you. Also: The three inspirations for the new baby’s name!
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It’s host versus co-host. The Spaniard finds competition essential while Dread questions that. The Spaniard gives a wrestler’s and fighter’s appreciation of flesh-and-blood opponents: how they have shaped him, how they have often obsessed him, and how he sometimes has to search for their equivalents. The conversation highlights how competitors personify high standards and how the highest performance might require a winner and a loser. Also: Will baby Rocky let The Spaniard work out?
It’s host versus co-host. The Spaniard finds competition essential while Dread questions that. The Spaniard gives a wrestler’s and fighter’s appreciation of flesh-and-blood opponents: how they have shaped him, how they have often obsessed him, and how he sometimes has to search for their equivalents. The conversation highlights how competitors personify high standards and how the highest performance might require a winner and a loser. Also: Will baby Rocky let The Spaniard work out?
It’s host versus co-host. The Spaniard finds competition essential while Dread questions that. The Spaniard gives a wrestler’s and fighter’s appreciation of flesh-and-blood opponents: how they have shaped him, how they have often obsessed him, and how he sometimes has to search for their equivalents. The conversation highlights how competitors personify high standards and how the highest performance might require a winner and a loser. Also: Will baby Rocky let The Spaniard work out?
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I had a mentor tell me to “always leave people better than how you found them.” Words are powerful and things you say that don’t mean much to you could mean the world to someone else. What you say, how you say it, and your body language can lift someone up or tear them down whether you meant to or not.
On top of that, it goes the same for yourself…”I’m terrible at remembering names” or “I can’t do this” or “ill never figure this thing out”. When you say those things, you speak them into existence. Your brain is like a computer and only responds to what you input into it.
Great post and topic…your words and thoughts have input on yourself and others. Be councious of what you allow out of your mouth and to occupy your thoughts. Association is so important because of this as well…”you will be in five years based on what you allow into your head and the people you hang out with.”
If you haven’t read The Magic of Thinking Big, I think you’d like it. Thinking things into existence is a big concept in the book.