“Anyone who does not know the power of the word is behind the times.”
This statement from Florence Scovel Shinn, an American artist / book illustrator become a New Thought spiritual teacher / metaphysical writer in the 1920’s, got my attention when I was first reading her book The Game of Life and How to Play It.
And since then, over a decade ago, through observations of my own life, and also my clients’ lives, I’ve noticed that…
The way you speak and the words you use constantly shape your views of life and your experiences.
Because through the words you use, you give meaning and make assumptions of what is happening in and around you.
Those meanings and assumptions then easily start to guide your actions and behavior in every situation. And oftentimes, without you even noticing it.
Depending on the meaning you have given to any particular word, it can resonate with you negatively, positively or neutrally.
And this resonance isn’t necessarily universal, although it’s said that words have universal vibration.
But from what I’ve observed, the same word can resonate very differently to another person. It depends more on the level of consciousness how the word actually resonates.
For in my experience, the same words can be interpreted in a whole different manner by people on a different level of consciousness.
For example, have you experienced a point in time when you tried explaining what you’ve experienced to someone, but what they seem to hear is something completely different?
Usually, there’s been a word, or words, that were interpreted in a way that triggered the listener to a past experience that now alters how the current situation is perceived.
When this happens, the listener isn’t fully present in the moment, and instead, thrown back to memory lane, reflecting what’s been said through the lens of those past experiences.
And that’s where the level of consciousness differs automatically.
One is in the present.
While the other is in the past.
Thus, the words used may have very different meanings to another.
There of course isn’t anything wrong with this.
However.
For a leader.
It is a requirementto be aware of yourself and your reactions to what’s been said.
And it is a requirement to take full ownership of yourself and your reactions, instead of outsourcing them to someone or something else.
Otherwise, you’re in a constant battle of judgment and criticism.Of playing the name, blame and shame game.
Which, as you know, isn’t at all what the purpose of a leadership position is.
Or, let’s put it this way.
How often have you gotten the best out of people through naming, blaming or shaming? Or through judgment?
It isn’t exactly a recipe for a resilient, innovative and sustainable culture, that you’re rooting for, now is it? One where people get to prosper and explore their potentiality within?
No.
That’s one where you convince people to be less than they in reality are. To NOT explore the potentiality within.
And we all know how easily we ourselves can convince ourselves of being less than we in reality are. So much so that we definitely do not need anyone else around us to do the same.
Quite the opposite.
As a leader, it’s pivotal to understand this. And that everyone, from time to time, needs encouragement and gentle reminders to continue exploring the potentiality within, especially when they’re obviously facing a vulnerable situation.
And it’s even more pivotal to meet the person doing that without criticism or judgment. Without naming, blaming or shaming.
With courtesy and grace of staying present in the moment. Not launching into your mind’s perceptions of the past hurts.
Otherwise you can’t relate to and be there for anyone in a healthy manner.
And isn’t that what your responsibility as a leader is? Or as a fellow human being?
This is the skill that is going to position and rise you like a star – in any and every relationship!
With my all,
Paula
xx