Has anyone ever said a comment about you in a “joking” way? Or maybe you were in a conversation with your friends/ family and something was said that made you think twice about yourself. Did it stick with you longer than it was intended to? There is an African Proverb that says “ The ax forgets. The tree remembers.” In the last post, we talked about the Power in your words and how that pertains to ourselves but now let's think about how our words can affect others.
Words have a way of changing people. It can change mindsets, attitudes, feelings, and even relationships in a blink of an eye. They can also be misconstrued depending on the context. In knowing this, it is often a good rule of thumb to really think about the words we are about to say and what they can mean to others. Also we should try to use positive, uplifting, and understanding words. The more we practice this, the more it will not only help others but define ourselves.
We have all had those days where it seems like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. If you thought that you were alone in this trust and find comfort that you are not. Okay maybe even that day rolled into two days, a week, or a month. Next thing we know we are in a funk or depressed and don't know how to get ourselves out of it. We try to hide how we are feeling with a smile, or being the life of the party, or perhaps even isolating ourselves.
What if you ran into yourself, at this moment on the street. What would you want someone to do? Or better yet, what would you want to hear? How are you? I see you. Thank you for being you. Do you need a hug? A simple acknowledgement is sometimes all we need. It can knock out bad thoughts, bad comments or any negativity that was going on that we had no idea someone was struggling with.
In this New Year, when interacting with others, don't forget about the ax and the tree; Like the tree people will remember your words. Use them wisely.
In this New Year, when interacting with others, don't forget about the ax and the tree; Like the tree people will remember your words. Use them wisely.
By: Mo