Aug 7, 2011

Speaking kindly

"By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach." Winston Churchill.

Have you ever been around someone who seems to talk without censor?  It is amazing to see that, seemingly, what occurs in their thoughts automatically comes out their mouths.  Of course, we are all guilty sometimes of saying things that are hurtful to others -- without thinking or meaning to offend.  Communication is such an intricate process, and the problem in communicating with the care receiver is one of my biggest frustrations as caregiver.  An exercise we could try is to be silent and observe.  Does the situation really need our voice to be added? 

Today let us think:  Will what we want to say add to the harmony or will it disrupt it?  Let us stop and think before we speak, and let us speak only when our words will add to the well being of everyone.  That does not mean that sometimes we will not mean to speak up, but it does mean, I think, that we weigh the relevance of what we might want to say.  Is it a contribution?

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