Words Matter

 

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me ....

 Wait, REALLY?? Do we truly believe that WORDS can't hurt?

Our words are powerful. 

We can build resilience and learn to stay calm when others are rude or hurtful. We can try to ignore insults and use only kind words ourselves.

But the truth is, 

             words can cause lasting harm to any one of us.

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Swears. Using bad language is on the rise and that's not a good thing.

Swearing can make people feel uncomfortable and create a negative environment. Curse words are disrespectful. Using bad language can give the impression that you don't care about others. 

     If you want to show people your best self, choose a better word.

People swear when they might have a hard time expressing big emotions.  You must find the courage to say what you mean and ask for what you need.

Be smart. Find your courage. Listen to your heart. There is always a better word.

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Jokes. Sometimes jokes aren't funny. Sometimes jokes can really hurt.

Humor should connect people and bring us together. Good jokes can make the mood light and fun. We just need to ensure that everyone is included and feels safe when the laughter happens.

Never joke about the unique characteristics of a group or individual. Don't use profanity or mean words. A joke isn't a joke if it hurts.

"You're too sensitive."

"Chill out. I was just kidding."

"Can't you take a joke?"

If you've ever been on the receiving end of one of these comments, you know it can make you feel even worse than the joke that was just made at your expense. 

If a mistake is made and someone is hurt by a joke, don't minimize it. 

Admit your mistake. Apologize and make it right. Do better the next time.

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The Words We Tell Ourselves.

Perhaps the most important words are the words we tell ourselves. Sometimes we might struggle with a challenge, or we might make a mistake. 

We might be angry and call ourselves names or put ourselves down. Our words matter. If we're not careful, we can start to believe the words we say. 

Choose KIND words, forgiving words, accepting words. Tell yourself you are GOOD and SMART, FUNNY and KIND. 

If we are careful, we will BE the WORDS we TELL ourselves.

Our words are powerful. Choose wisely. Show that you respect and care about the people around you.