Captain Obvious

We see someone shivering and ask if they are cold.  Someone mashes their finger and we ask if it hurts.  We see someone with the handset to their head and ask if they are on the phone.  We see someone with a flat and ask if they have a flat. Well duh Captain Obvious, it does hurt, they are cold, they are on the phone, and they do have a flat. Some of the dumbest things come out of our mouths at times, and once the words are out there, you can’t take them back.

I work at waiting 5 seconds before I respond or react to words or events.  I do a little mental check as I have thrown words out there too soon before with less than good results. They can bring happiness and joy and inflict plenty of pain and ill will.  Think about the feelings you get and the expression from another when you give a compliment.  Now think about those same feelings and those same expressions.  You will quickly see the power of your words.  Yvonne Oswald has a book called, Every Word Has Power. 

Her book really helped me change the way I talk and the words I use.  I keep a copy of a list of optimistic high energy and low energy words on the fridge to remind me words to use and words to work on removing from my vocabulary.  All of our words have power.  Promote yourself from Captain Obvious to Colonel Countdown and learn to count to 5 before opening your mouth.