Speak Easy

 
Do the words we speak - about ourselves and others - affect our health and well-being?  You bet they do!  Not only do they affect us, they affect those around us.

Although there may be sounds in our lives that we cannot change, we always have some control over what we allow in our environment.

 

Here are four proactive steps to improve the sounds that surround you.  Take a moment and think about your sound life:

1.  Which sounds and words are positive and which do you find abrasive?  Do you allow yourself intervals of quiet and silence?  Do you reserve time for yourself where you control what's in your air space?

2.  Think about the words you hear from others.  Are there any that are consistently negative and that make you unhappy or drag you down?

3.  The sounds of your own discontent can create discontent within others.  Think about the words you speak that impact those in your sphere of influence.  Where is there room for improvement?

4.  Imagine your ideal sound environment.  What kinds of sounds would you include?  What sounds would you eliminate?

I'd love to hear from anyone who tries this for themselves.  Please leave a comment or send me an email sharing your experience.  Did you make quiet time for yourself?  Identify and eliminate your own personal negative words?  Create your preferred sound environment?  Did this make any difference at all in the way you felt that day?  The following day?  Did those around you behave differently when you changed the words you used?  Your feedback is appreciated.