Do You Construct, Or Destruct?

The title of this post asks the question: Do you construct, or destruct? What I mean by that is quite simply that your words have power. They have the power to uplift, encourage, motivate and inspire the people you communicate with and your own self. On the other hand, they also have the power to hurt, ridicule, demotivate and put down those same people, including yourself!



If you think about this principle for a few minutes you realize that you play a very important role in the mood of the people around you. When someone comes to you with an idea, a dream, an aspiration or a goal, how do you respond? Do you criticize that dream? Do you knock it down with endless scenarios of negativity and "what ifs"? Or do you offer praise for thinking outside the box, or encouragement for having the guts to go after what he or she really wants in life?



How do you think this person will feel and react after you just dissected and criticized their dream? Personally, I think anger is one of the first emotions to rear its ugly head. After that, resentment might kick in, and in some extreme cases, this person might even try to hurt you back by offering one of those, "well, I think you're just this and that". Most of us can agree that this negative mood of hostility and resentment has absolutely nothing good to offer to either the recipient or the source.



On the other hand, some words of encouragement are going to have the absolute opposite effect. A "good job", or an "I believe you can do it" will energize and lift the spirit of the bearer, and I might add that it will lift your spirit as well. There's very few things as fulfilling as knowing that you just made a positive contribution in some one's day. The feeling you get when someone leaves happier and more at peace after having conversed with you is both exhilarating and addictive.



I'd suggest that, whenever someone asks for your advise or input, take a few seconds before responding to think if your comment is going to construct, or destruct. Figure out if that negative comment is REALLY necessary, or if it's just your own way of safeguarding your ego by proving just how smart you are.



By saying this, I'm not at all suggesting that if someone comes to you for advise, and you know, for a fact, that there's a flaw in there somewhere, that you wouldn't RESPECTFULLY correct them. But do so in a way that encourages that person to become better, to learn more and to believe in themselves more.



This also applies to how you communicate with yourself, by the way. What you say to yourself has a great deal to do in how your life turns out. This is where the I CAN, versus the I CAN'T mentality comes in, but I'll save that for another post. ;)



Before I end this post, I want to share a link to an amazing film I found, which clearly shows what I mean when I say: You words have power! Please take a moment to watch it, and share it with others. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao&playnext_from=TL&videos=YFLC1-Zshoo



So before you offer your insight next time, think about what you are going to say and how that will affect the recipient and yourself.



Love to all! :)