I had heard all sorts of tales about the power of the tongue. However, it dawned on me and I came to the realization that it is indeed true that the tongue is powerful. As a result, one should be cognizant of the fact that it is best for one to remain tight lipped as much as possible and not be a loose cannon when it comes to personal affairs. Control your word choice and only speak when necessary best sums it up but it’s easier said than done for others. It is prudent to only let out what you can live with were it to happen as spoken. Introverts will no doubt have the upper hand here but just as most societies tend to pigeonhole introverts into acting social, likewise extroverts have to learn to put their words on a tight leash. There has to be give and take on both sides even though the extroverts are a majority in the spheres of life.
When it comes to budgets, accountants and finance professionals for the most part tend to treat it like the bible. Any slight deviation from it tends to cause agony and untold suffering. Speaking from a point of knowledge having had formal training in the aforementioned professions. A few days back, I inadvertently created an extra expense line in my personal budget and had to part with some money barely six hours later as a result thereof. In an unguarded moment right before bedtime, I told my wife that I had some idle funds which I was willing to allocate to a certain task. I explicitly stated the available amount.
In the morning as I was settling in to a sumptuous breakfast, I received a call from my aunt. After exchanging pleasantries for what seemed like a lifetime owing to the fact that I was eager to get back to my earlier activity, she asked me to send her some money. What blew my mind is that it was exactly the same amount I had explicitly stated to my wife less than three hundred and sixty minutes earlier. As per the dictates of the universal laws of nature, I sent out a signal to the universe via the spoken word. Had I not spoken, I probably would not have parted ways with the cash. Wealth is like hair in the nose: It hurts to be separated whether from a little or from a lot. This is not the first incidence of the same kind. A while back, I uttered something and it came to pass as envisaged. Therefore, I’m inclined towards the belief that words are important. It is better to keep your mouth shut and be seen as foolish. It’s key to note that spoken words can never be taken back no matter how hard one tries. Moreover, a Freudian slip can inflict more pain than a double edged sword.
Roscoe Drummond once said “The mind is a wonderful thing. It starts working the minute you are born and never stops until you get up to speak in public”. Public speaking is a different ball game. In college, a visiting professor once turned a lemon into lemonade. The night before the lecture, she left no stone unturned in as far as preparation was concerned. As a backup plan, she prepared note cards but she forgot to place numbers on the cards. As fate would have it, she ran into some headwinds. No sooner had she stepped on the stage than she stumbled and the cards were scattered in all directions. Luckily, she managed to catch her fall thus saving herself further embarrassment.
After regaining her composure, she scribbled on the board Lesson 1: Always number your cards. The self-deprecating humor endeared her to the crowd. Shortly thereafter, she threw the cards into the trash can and proceeded to write on the board Lesson 2: Always rehearse. That way, you won’t be sorely in need of the cards. In this case, her mind never stopped when she got to speak in public. Her speech went well and she received accolades for a nicely executed speech. Seldom do we know that in a split second decision she opted to turn lemons into lemonade. By stating always rehearse and getting rid of the cards, she sent out a signal to the universe that all will turn out well and it did.
In addition to the aforementioned two lessons, there is a third subtle lesson that ought not to be overlooked. Cutting the over-reliance on the note cards coupled with the fact that she let it known set the stage for success. This is akin to the daily morning affirmations often times encouraged such as “I am going to have a good day”. Chances are high that you will indeed have a good day as envisaged. It is the same principle here that belies the power of the spoken word. In conclusion, it is worth noting that whether or not the words are spoken in the intimacy of your household or to all and sundry in public, the effect is still the same. The watch your words advice cuts across the board and is relevant to both personal as well as business dealings. There’s an old Jewish proverb that states “When you open a door, don’t forget to close it. Treat your mouth accordingly”.
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