Power of Words - Part 3

The previous installments of this series looked at various aspects of the power of the words we use on a daily basis. Part 1 looked at our ability to choose our words, while Part 2 addressed how those choices are driven by what we think about.

I don't know about you, but many times I find that I fully engage my mouth before I engage my brain - which usually results in the engagement of my foot being firmly placed in my mouth.

To help minimize that unpleasant experience, here's an acronym that I heard a speaker share about THINKing before speaking. It simply requires the speaker to first ask themself if what they're about to say to an individual or group is:

(T)rue
(H)elpful
(I)spiring
(N)ecessary
(K)ind

I "think" we could each have a positive impact on our respective corners of the world if more of us used this simple reminder, to THINK before we speak. What do you "think" about that?

The Power of Words – Part 2

If you’ve spent any time around a computer, you understand the phrase “garbage in, garbage out” which basically means that if you input lousy data or content you can expect to get a lousy output. This concept of “garbage in, garbage out” surrounds us in life.

I used to work in a radio newsroom where one of the favorite sayings of the news director was, “You can’t turn chicken poop into chicken salad.” This is certainly a more colorful way of restating the “garbage” axiom, albeit much less appetizing.

However, we do try to convey the “input/output” rule to our kids about food with the message, “You are what you eat.” In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has spent millions of dollars developing and promoting its food pyramid supporting healthy nutrition. The main idea behind it being that healthier food intake produces healthier physical outputs or results.

Even during the early auditions for each season of “American Idol,” you can tell immediately the “performers” who shouldn’t be there.

The Power of Words: Part 1

We all know the childhood rhyme of sticks and stones breaking bones and the powerlessness of words to hurt. But words do hurt and words do have power. In fact, they have tremendous power and impact.

Don’t believe me? Click on this link as a reminder of the power of the spoken word.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUP_ISA030c

Maybe none of us will ever achieve the same degree of global impact with our own words as those echoed on the national mall more than 40 year ago.