Do your words matter? Absolutely! “Words are seeds that do more than blow around. They land in our hearts and not the ground. Be careful what you plant and careful what you say. You might have to eat what you planted one day.” The book of Proverbs also tells us that, “kind words are like honey – sweet to the taste and good for your health.”

As a therapist and behaviorist, the science behind both positive and negative reinforcement, leaves very little room for doubt. Quite frankly, it doesn’t take science to confirm what generations of people already know. You simply catch more flies with honey. Every single one of us responds positively where simple kindnesses are present. Kindness begins with a word. Words are actions. And, we are the only ones with the power to decide whether our words will decimate, or uplift. They are swords to be yielded with kindness and grace, or to slay: killing hope, initiative, creativity, and leaving a trail of ugliness in its wake. Words have the power of trickle down too. How many of us have seen an inept manager belittling and degrading someone all day, only to have this person go home and unleash that same undeserved ugliness on his-her family and friends? It happens all too frequently.

Among the many valuable life lessons my Father taught me, the most important was making your words count. When he spoke, people listened. And, unkind or negative commentary was not something to be found in him. Through his wise reserve, I learned that a spoken word is a powerful thing. You cannot un-speak vitriol-ugliness, that words have the power to infect, just like a virus. But, spoken with reserve and thoughtful kindness, they can ignite others!

Speak nourishment into others! It will come back to you in the most delightful and unexpected ways!