Healthy Choice #2

Of all the things in your life that are out of your control, I’m here to tell you, what you say is not one of them. As much as you might like to make excuses like; ‘she made me say it’, ‘what was I suppose to do, say nothing?’ or maybe ‘he made me so angry, it’s not my fault I started yelling.’ Whether you like it or not, we are all responsible for what comes out of our mouths.

That’s why I wanted to share this simple strategy with you. These 3 little words have changed the way I communicate. Stop. Think. Speak.

STOP. You have control over what words you speak, and also when you speak them. Start to use that control. A fool blurts out all they know. Don’t. Use your words wisely. Stop speaking without thought. Train yourself to ‘Stop’.

THINK. Next step is to ‘Think’. Think about what response would be most beneficial in the moment. Think about the outcome you desire, and what words best facilitate that outcome.

SPEAK. Now you can ‘Speak’. When you have actively engaged your conscious mind, and thoughtfully constructed your language, clearly express your thought, need or desire.

Like any new skill this takes practice, but in a world full of meaningless conversation this is definitely a skill worth developing. Please understand, the words you use, and when you use them are completely within your control. No-one can make you say anything. It’s all you. Take responsibility for your words. Maybe it’s time you chose to ‘Stop – Think – Speak’.