Sunday Six Word Memoir

It was a slow and silent week for me.  I fought off a little cold bug, resulting in more rest and less activity.  I canceled a couple of social engagements due to not feeling quite well.  I worked on a marketing project, but did little writing.

However, in looking back over the few recent social interactions I've had, a theme has emerged.  I've noticed that when I speak too negatively about a feeling of frustration or discouragement I am having over slow progress in my business, or shortness of cash, or an idea that won't gel, or just about anything else, I elicit unexpected - and perhaps unwelcome - responses.  Well-meaning friends either cluck sympathetically, or try to cheer me up, or pepper me with suggestions.  Rather than helping, this actually results in my doubting myself and what I'm attempting to do, which isn't helpful.  Much more important, I've realized that I engender this result myself by the manner in which I speak.

So the theme which has emerged this week is that it matters what I say.  The language I use to describe to others the projects I'm working on, or the challenges I'm wrestling with, or the emotions I'm experiencing is tremendously significant.  It isn't just that my words are important toward being understood by others (although that's true too), but that my words are important for me.  The language I use to describe a thing has an impact upon how I experience it, how I feel about it, and how optimistic I feel about my progress.  It isn't a matter of deluding myself about the reality of my choices or circumstances; rather, it's about taking responsibility for the manner in which I describe that reality.

So here is another in my series of Six Word Memoirs - a memoir to encapsulate my week:

Speaking optimistically creates a hopeful outlook.

Got your own Six Word Memoir?  Feel free to share it in the Comments!