Sticks and stones may break bones but words can hurt. Practicing mindful speaking toward one another is a step we could all take to help change the world for the better. Words play a powerful factor in everyday life.
Whether someone gives a compliment or approaches another with joyful words, it feels good for the person on the receiving end. However, words can also have a negative factor.
When one conveys a pessimistic message, it can have a repercussion on the listener’s life. Others pick up on the negativity in the conversation, which could cause them to feel sad or angry.
“Words can make us feel happy or sad,” Bismarck State College’s Associate Professor of Speech, Sheryl Omlid said. “Words tend to have different meanings for people. Not in terms of definition, but in terms of emotions. It is important to think about the tone and ‘how’ we say something,” Omlid explains.
When we use discriminatory dialect, we cause harm not only to others but to ourselves as well. Practicing mindful speaking improves one’s career and personal life. Acknowledge the context and culture of others when communicating. This may save harm done to personal and professional relationships.
“Hasty communication can have lasting negative impressions on relationships and even your job,” Omlid wrote. “It is important to take the time to think about the message you are sending. Patience and thoughtful reflection will go a long way to ensure that you are effectively communicating in a mindful way.”
Perhaps the most important thing to do when practicing mindful speaking is to listen to the other person. Read their expressions and actively show interest in what they are saying by nodding or making eye contact. Whenever someone is not listening, they are the opposite of a mindful speaker.
“Open-minded listening helps to provide different perspectives other than your own point of view,” Omlid said. “It is important to understand the other person in a more meaningful way. Listening with an open mind shows that you respect what the other person has to say.”
Be thoughtful about how you would like to respond and consider the other person’s feelings.
“With practice, we can be ourselves in all types of communication settings and be mindful about what we are communicating,” Omlid added. “Taking a moment to think about effective and ineffective communication with our words can be a powerful way to transform how we interact with people.”
Sticks and stones may break bones, but we have the power to not hurt others with our words. Even though the tongue doesn’t have any bones, it is still strong enough to wound a soul.
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