Words are powerful - choose them carefully.

 Speak when you are angry– and you will make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” - L. J. Peter, author of the Peter Principle (1919 – 1988)

We have all said things that a nanosecond later we wished we hadn't. But on the flip side, we have all had moments of brilliance where what emotes from our mouths could not have been any more eloquent or appropriate than had we had  Ted Sorensen or William Wordsworth helping us out. It just seems we have more of the former than that latter, and that nobody ever seems to remember the good ones.

My dad sent me a link to a video called The Power of Words that shows how selecting your words more carefully can have a dramatic effect on the end result. While the music in video is a bit melodramatic, and I am not sure how I would feel if someone changed my sign and then wouldn't tell me what it said, I think it gets its point across effectively.  Amnesty International also did a great job on visually protraying the powerful effect of words in their video The Power of Words. 

As a communicator (in my job, being a mom, coach, friend, ...) sometimes the words come easy; sometimes not so much. One thing I work on (when I remember to) is reflectling on what I am about to say before I actually let the words tumble forth from my lips, because I understand the lasting impact - positive and negative - impact words can have on someone without the speaker even knowing.