Tag: Words

Take the Compliment

What is your first response when someone compliments you? Do you take it and say, “thank you?”, shrug it off, or maybe you are like me, and you’re truly grateful for it, but you negate it. Why would one negate it? It is because the receiver may not always believe the compliment to be true. This can be detrimental!

When someone compliments us, most of the time they are being honest and genuine. Most people will not take the time to compliment someone just for kicks. There was something that they felt was special about you and they wanted to let you know. Compliments are a great way to break the ice and bond with another person. We all love to hear a good word about ourselves, it makes us feel great inside.

Examples

Try to imagine yourself in the following scenario. Picture yourself as both the giver and the receiver of the compliment:

Mark: “I really love your writing; you are very talented.”

Travis: “Thank you, but it’s nothing special, I am really just an average writer.”

I can only speculate about how others feel but given that I have been in this situation on both sides, I know how I felt. Mark is happy to express his love for Travis’ writing, but Travis responds to his compliment by saying that he’s just average. Mark may feel like his feelings have been shot down, or that Travis disagrees with him. Travis may be happy on the inside after hearing the compliment, but he is not letting it build him up, he doesn’t own the compliment and take a moment to make him feel boosted and happy! Both most likely walk away feeling disconnected.

It is hard to take a compliment if we don’t believe it, but if we practice accepting compliments and the kind words that others give us, it can really positively impact us and others. 

Imagine yourself in this scenario now as both the commenter and receiver:

Shelley: “You work really well under pressure; I truly admire that about you.”

Christina: “Oh, thank you so much! That makes me happy, I try hard to stay focused and relaxed.”

Shelley has given a nice and motivating compliment to Christina who graciously accepts! Shelley is feeling so happy that she could positively impact Christina by sharing her feelings and Christina is happy and feeling boosted that her efforts are paying off. Both walk away feeling happy and bonded.

The Mirror Lies

What we see in the mirror isn’t what everyone else sees. We often don’t see ourselves in a bright light like everyone else sees us. We see flaws and failure; they see strength and confidence. I love compliments, I think that most of us do. I don’t always believe the compliment being made about myself, but I am trying very hard not to negate it. I try to own it, to embrace it, to let it bring me and someone else joy.

The next time that you are given a compliment, try to embrace it if you don’t already, and see where that takes you. I am willing to bet that it will leave you feeling confident and lifted!

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A Coworker’s Comment Changed My Life

We know how powerful words are. They stick with us for many years if not for a lifetime. Good or bad, they often stay etched in our minds.

Sometimes people don’t realize how important their words are to others. They don’t realize the difference that they are making.

An Observation 

When I was in my early twenties, I was very extroverted, unlike today. I wanted to talk with anyone and everyone. I enjoyed learning about others, sharing stories, and helping other people.

I spent much of my day asking others how they were doing, supporting others, offering advice, or lending a hand. To me, it was just because it was in my nature, but a coworker of mine made a comment to me one day that truly changed my life. She said, “I noticed that you always seem to be extending your energy outwards.”

I still remember these words plain as day. I was taken aback by the comment, and I didn’t quite know what she meant, but when I realized that she was right, my world changed.

Feelings 

I have always been the anxious type and to get rid of some of the nervous energy, I sometimes became a chatterbox or would keep “searching” for something or someone that could bring me peace. All of the energy projected outwards was a way to try to discover myself, as I was feeling lost and out of place. I was searching in the wrong area, I needed to turn that energy inward.

I naturally love to care for other people, but I was doing it in a way that never allowed me to get in touch with myself. I tried to find myself in others and I was never found.

I took these words to heart thinking that my coworker was onto something and sure enough, she was.

Improvement 

I was still me; I still had a huge passion for the people in my life, but I learned to balance all of this energy. I made sure to have energy for those that I loved and energy for me.

I started taking great steps to allow myself to feel more stable and centered. I took long walks in nature, did meditation, painted, and did arts and crafts. I enjoyed writing, cooking, photography, and I practiced mindfulness.

I became aware and in tune with myself. I made sure to check in with myself and how I was feeling from time to time. I paid attention to the breath that flowed in and out of my body. Instead of feeling constantly depleted, there was energy for others as well as myself. It was like an awakening, and I owed it all to my coworker.

Power

We hold the power to change our own lives and each other’s lives. Words are so powerful, listening is also powerful, as is being open to receive and incorporate such words.

I still think about these words today. My coworker made my life so much easier by simply noticing and sharing an observation.

Your Words Are My Escape

There is a person that can take me away, paint an image in my head for me to get lost in, and a person that can help me escape reality for a bit.

Who is this person, you might ask? That person is…YOU!

There are a few ways that we can get lost in another world. One that can take us away from our daily lives and routines so that we can unwind and relax for a bit. Reading, writing, art, and watching TV come to mind instantly.

Reading Your Work

I spend a lot of time enjoying the work of others. I love to read what other people have experienced, and what they have learned in life, and I love lighthearted reads as well. I enjoy learning about other people and learning about their deepest thoughts and feelings.

I find it amazing how we can all come together as a writing community and learn so much from each other. The support that it offers is amazing. It is a huge blessing to be able to share your thoughts with the world and to have that reciprocated by others doing the same.

Thank You

I want to say thank you to those who have written about their lives to help and inspire me, those that have shared their beautiful and heartfelt poetry, and the writers that have shared their traveling experiences that let me venture along with you! I want to say thank you to those who shared their delicious recipes, who shared family memories, and traditions that made me smile and reminisce.

A big thank you to those who help me realize that we are all works of progress and that I am not alone, the ones that bring humor to remind me to laugh and not take life so seriously. The lovely writers who are also photographers who take breathtaking photos to share with the world!

There is so much talent within this community. You all have helped shape me as a person and as a writer. I enjoy all of your talented work and I appreciate how you let me escape reality for a bit each and every day! You are making a difference!

So Many Words

“I don’t have words,” is not a phrase that you will find me saying very often. It is usually quite the opposite. I am so in love with words and with language and how numerous words strung together can form the most beautiful piece.

I have loved writing ever since I was a little girl. Today it has become part of my soul, I would be lost without it. I love being able to sit down with my laptop or pen and paper and let the words and thoughts flow freely. I love the fact that my work may touch someone else, maybe they will find it relatable, and helpful, and maybe it will motivate them, or even help them grow.

So Much to Say

I always feel like there is so much to say and so much to share with the world. I am hardly a woman of a few words. I can’t seem to write a card or a letter without it being many paragraphs long, even a text message to a loved one is hardly ever short and sweet, it contains many words and emotions. I am a very deep thinker and I love deep conversation.

Ironically, when verbally speaking with others, I am more of the listener than the talker, but when I write I can’t stop “talking.” I cannot seem to write using just a few words, there is so much on my mind and in my heart to say.

To say that I love words is an understatement, they are a part of me and my life, they bring me happiness and they help connect me with others. Words are so powerful.

As A Writer

As a writer, I would be nothing without the precious words that I have to convey my thoughts and feelings and communicate with the world around me.

Given that you are reading this right now, I presume that you are also a lover of words, a lover of reading and writing.

Thoughts

I have always wondered why people like myself are so drawn to words and writing. My take is that we are very deep thinkers, and we naturally are drawn to wanting to share our innermost thoughts and ideas with the world. We naturally want to make a difference; we want to help the world. I think most of us have stories and life experiences that we want to share to make an impact.

Writing is such a beautiful form of art; it allows us to get a glimpse of the author’s world and innermost feelings. As you go about your day, remember how important your knowledge is to other individuals, and remember that your words will make a lasting impact!

Do You Have Unspoken Words With Someone?

In life, we are constantly meeting people and socializing with others whether it be at school, work, or even at the grocery store.

We all come from many walks of life and because of that, we have very different ways of viewing things and perceiving the world around us. With these differences comes possible misunderstandings and strains on relationships.

Life Unfiltered

Getting two or more people together isn’t always going to go smoothly. People have opinions, they feel hurt, rejected, or misunderstood.

Most of the time individuals can come together to hash out their differences and come to a mutual understanding. Hopefully following this will be forgiveness and moving forward in the relationship.

The Downside

Unfortunately, being able to work through differences and settle arguments doesn’t always work out in our favor.

The other party may not be willing to sacrifice, or work it out, they may simply not even respond. This type of situation can leave us feeling hopeless.

Do you have something to say, but are not ready or able to say it?

Left Unsaid

Maybe the other person is not willing to talk to you, or maybe you have something to say, but the timing is not right.

Whatever it may be, it is important to let out your feelings and get what you want to say off of your chest.

Words left unsaid can be very damaging to one’s health. Not being able to share what is on your mind and in your heart is very stressful and prevents us from living authentically.

One Little Trick

Whenever I find myself in a situation where I cannot contact the other person, or I don’t want to let my feelings out just yet, I turn to one thing.

I get out a journal and I address the letter to the person to whom I wish to relay the message to. I start by writing their name and then I let my thoughts flow from my head to my hand. I write everything down that I wish I could say to this particular person.

It’s Up to You

Sending the letter will be up to you. I have letters that I have saved, ones that I wrote and then put in the trash, and letters that I have sent to the intended recipient after they were completed.

This simple exercise is very helpful in clearing your mind. It can help ease the heaviness in your heart and make you feel more at peace with your past.

Even when the letter is not sent or read by anyone else, you will have had the chance to say what you wanted to and that is so freeing and does wonders for healing. Bottled-up feelings come back to haunt us in the future.

Think of Someone

Is there someone in your life that you have unspoken words with? Is there something that you’ve want to get off of your chest but felt like it was the wrong time, or that the other person wouldn’t be receptive?

Try writing a letter to this individual and see how much better you feel. Bonus points if you end up sending it, but the idea and meaning behind this letter is to get what has been left unsaid out in the open.

I hope that at least someone will be able to benefit from this exercise the way that I do. It’s very hard to go through life without sharing what is going on deep inside of you. We are all on a journey to a happier life, a few small steps in the right direction can make a huge difference!