What Message Are You Sending?

I've recently been in leadership training and it was amazing. Much like an intense college quarter with assignments and classes and presentations, but so much more than that. One of the take away lessons was that our words create worlds. When we speak something, we or someone else gets instruction or encouragement or guidance and it paints a picture or takes us on a journey. 

Think about the last time someone read you a book or instructions for putting something together - those words created a picture in your mind or a movie as to how it would all come together. Our words do the same. That gives us a responsibility to be clear and concise and mean what we say. When we promise a child that we'll do something with them, we create a world of excitement and anticipation. What happens when we don't show up? They are disappointed and just a little less trusting of us the next time. We have eroded their trust. That doesn't just happen with children. What about when we speak poorly of people? What does that do to their self-esteem? We have to be careful to build up and not break down (Eph 4:29).

The Bible states that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Prov 18:21). Life and death are in our words. We speak things positively or negatively. We create worlds with our words. What words are you speaking? Are you always talking about how bad things are? If so, that is all you'll see. Are you speaking of the positives in life? If so, you'll see the half full glass and not the half empty one. No one is suggesting that you not be realistic or tell the truth, but there are different ways to describe the truth. 

One person may say it's a cloudy day, while another may say the Sun is just behind the clouds - both statements are true. But one sounds more optimistic. If the Sun is just behind the clouds, we can expect it to come out anytime. We are reminded it will shine again. Are you providing hope or despair with your words? 

Next time you are sharing with someone think about what you are saying and how you are saying it. Try to couch it in realistic optimism. Realistic optimism is the ability to balance out negative and positive things in situations, circumstances and people. We all need hope and joy. Let's use our words to bring as much of that as possible to the world.