And why managing your mouth is one of the most important skills you can learn.
What you say matters. And it matters a lot! It matters more than you think.
Having a careless way of speaking and not controlling what you say is the most detrimental habit that you can have. We all know these type of people:
They say whatever they want to say without regard to anyone else's feelings.
They speak out of turn or try to talk over you.
They talk so much you can't get a word in.
They make inappropriate comments at the wrong time.
Their facial expressions and body language make you uncomfortable.
They talk so loud that they can be heard a mile away.
They talk so low that you have to lean in to hear them.
They think being rude, nasty, and obnoxious is admirable.
They seem to never think before saying anything.
They think silence means they should be talking.
They tell you about EVERYTHING and divulge too much information.
They are tell everything they know without discretion.
Did you find yourself in that list?
As I have learned and grown in my communication skills, I started realizing that a key component of self-confidence and self-esteem lies in learning how to manage my mouth.
Failing to manage your mouth can result in destroyed relationships, derailed careers, unhappy clients, and loss of customers. How many of us have refused to go back to a particular business because of something that an employee said to us?
We respond to others based on what they SAY as well as what they do. And other people respond to you based on what you SAY and do.
The first step in gaining control of your mouth is admitting that is out of control right now.
It literally took me years to admit this to myself. I was stuck on the "they just don't understand me" train. Communication is all about creating understanding between people. And if you are repeatedly failing to be understood, it is probably tied to your inability to communicate clearly and confidently.
My awakening come one day after I had spoken some hurtful words to someone that I loved. I cried. I couldn't even believe some of the things that I let come out of my mouth. It was that day that I decided something had to change.
And that change had to begin with me taking control of my mouth.
I starting studying this scripture out of the Bible:
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among
the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,
sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and
is itself set on fire by hell. ~ James 1:6
Those are some harsh words. But they speak to the power that our words have over our body and our life. If we want to change what is showing up in our lives, we will have to change what we talk about and the way that we talk about it.
It all starts with learning how to manage our mouths. This is not easy if we have made it a habit of speaking before we think or targeting our words to hurt other people. Bad habit die hard.
But if you want to repair your relationships, jumpstart your career, satisfy our clients, or create more business, you will have to learn how to manage your mouth.
Check out these 10 tips for helping you get control of your tongue.
Are you ready to change your life? Then change the words that are leaving your mouth.
Change is hard, but I know that you can do it. You have it in you to create the life of your dreams.
Now go out and be who God has called you to be!
And know that I am cheering for you!
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