Food for thought…and emotional health

“Weigh your words before you speak”. There might be a lot of wisdom in this old saying and it might save you and others some unnecessary stress and grief. You could loose a better deal for yourself by expressing your expectations too quickly or you could hurt some one unknowingly with the words you speak or the way you speak them. Once the words have left you, it is impossible to take them back. It doesn’t matter how unintentional they maybe, words can sometimes cut a lot deeper than a sword, especially if they come from someone you care about.

Most people are usually courteous to people they don’t know, but end up hurting people they care about because they let their guard down completely and forget to watch what they say around their loved ones. If these loved ones make you feel too comfortable to be hasty with your words, it might help if you could take a step back and think of them as someone you want to be liked by. Remember, everyone hurts. Just because someone loves you and cares about you they do not extend an invitation to be hurt. You can be comfortable and enjoy their company, but remember to be careful of the fine line when your carelessness could hurt them. With your friends, wouldn’t you be especially caring and think of gentle ways to convey the unhappy thoughts, because you want them to be happy.

You do not have to agree with or like everything thing your loved one likes but when you have to disagree, it might help if you took that extra moment to convey your disagreement by letting them down easy and telling them gently that you do not share their opinion or enthusiasm. How you say something can do wonders or disasters for you and your loved ones. Kind words, even disagreeable ones will not let you loose a friend who appreciates your opinion.

If we can be nice to people that we don’t know, because we generally do not want to hurt anyone and because we want to be liked, then why don’t we want to take the time to think and be courteous and kind to people who matter the most? Why would we want to hurt the ones who are with us and already like us?

The smile you send out returns to you. Most of the time, anyway!

Happy thoughts!! Smile!