I believe that words can help us move or keep us paralyzed,
and that our choices of language and verbal tone have something
-- a great deal --
to do with how we live our lives and whom we end up
speaking with and hearing;
and that we can deflect words, by trivialization, of course,
but also by ritualized respect,
or we can let them enter our souls
and mix with the juices of our minds.
~~ Adrienne Rich ~~
The greatest gift we can give to one another
is the gift of respectful communication.
Of hearing each other’s messages
and responding appropriately.
The angriest of men will swiftly quiet
when he knows he has been heard...
and acknowledged...
that his words have had power and have reached us.
Let us empower ourselves,and all those we deal with today,
with respectful communication.
much honesty in communication.
We would rather defend our dishonesty
on the grounds that honesty might hurt others;
and, having rationalized our phoniness into nobility,
we settle
for superficial communication and relationships.
The greatest challenge of an enlightened individual
is to speak honestly at all times.
To be candid without being brutal or apologetic.
Let us act as if we live in a world
where honest communication is valued...
where neither brutality of expression
nor apology are necessary.
Let us be frank, candid, open...
Let us be honest.
as if you & he were encased in darkness...
Use your tone of voice as illumination...
lead him into the Light of understanding.
So often we become lazy in our communications...
we allow postures, gestures, and expressions
to carry dimly perceived meanings.
We fail to utilize vocabulary and tone
for true depth of meaning.
Today, Speak to every man as if he were blind...
discard useless gestures
and manipulative postures...
Speak from your heart...
illuminate your conversations
with gentle tone and truthful voice.