Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Word Power

Words have weight, don’t they? The power to hurt or uplift. It seems crazy that what someone says can have more impact than let’s say, a baseball bat swung by Derek Jeter.
I came across a quote the other day and it struck me with the force of a line drive. So, here I am sharing it with you, because man, sometimes I need reminding. And just maybe, you do to.
“Experience is not what happens to a man.  It is what a man does with what happens to him.”  ~Aldous Huxie
So there it is. . .wrapped up in two tidy little sentences. Outlook is everything.
How I choose to view my world and react to what happens to me in it is as important as the WHAT. Very philosophical, I know. But, it’s true. Good or bad, a situation can be turned on its head simply by changing our view of it, looking at all the angles until we see the positive potential that is innately a part of it. Or should say, a part of each one us?
Because, like it or not, I am the common denominator in every situation I wade into and through. The variables change. The players too. But, I’m always there, picking a path through sometimes rocky terrain, choosing what to say and how to react. And that is an absolute that will never change.

So, how do you deal with all the bumps along the way.  All those naysayers? The rejections and disappointments?
Arm yourselves, my friends. My weapon of choice? Positive attitude fused with unfailing faith. It kills’em every time.

17 comments:

  1. Excellent post. Soooooo very true. Now your quote will nag me all day too. Thanks, eh.

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  2. I know, I know....sorry, Tanya! It's nagging me too though, so I just gave in and pinned it to my vision board. Sigh...now, it's looking at me too.

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  3. This is a great way to look at things. I've gotten a lot more philosophical about things as time goes by. I realize I'll feel differently about a situation by the next day, so I try not to let it rob THIS day of enjoyment, or productivity. It's not always easy, but it's my goal. :)

    Donna

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  4. Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me :PPPPP

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  5. I needed to hear this today. Have you seen the movie The Book of Eli? I think of that movie whenever someone talks about the power of words. Of course there is much more to it than that.

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  6. I just consider the source. If I really value the person, I might ask for clarification (I'm guilty of blurting out things on occasion which can sound blunt or offensive...I don't mean to be) or forgive them if they're just having a bad day. But if it's from someone who doesn't really mean that much to me, or someone who's integrity/behavior I question, then I just shrug it off. Everyone is entitled to their opinion of me, but I don't have to internalize it.
    As a last resort, there's always chocolate.

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  7. That is a great quote, yep. Don't let the turkeys get ya down, in other words. Happy Wednesday!

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  8. Great post and amazing quote! It's amazing how people can put so much insight into such a small space.

    As for dealing with those disappointments, I have to say that I don't do well with them. It's one of the things that I constantly struggle with. But as I get older, I'm finding that there are some things that I just don't care how people react anymore. There are still some that I really worry about, but I'm slowly starting to realize that I can't please everyone.

    So I wish I had better advice than that, but that's what I've got so far.

    Amen, Li, about chocolate!

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  9. Chocolate is a cure all. I should start a peanut M&Ms fan club.

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  10. Superb post. If someone whacks you with a baseball bat, you'll heal, but words keep hurting because we replay them over and over in our minds. It's very difficult not to internalize what others say about us even when we persevere. But yes, the only answer is to remain positive, otherwise all is lost.

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  11. Great post! And love that quote. It actually got me thinking about my characters, more than anything (perhaps because I'm up to my neck in hair-pulling revisions at the moment) and how that's a great way to think about the journeys I send them on in my book ...

    Thanks for the food for thought! :-)

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  13. Well said!

    It's so true and for me falls in with the fact that everyone is responsible for his/her own happiness.

    No one else can make one happy. Happiness is created by oneself.

    Have a great day. :-)

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  14. Great thoughts, E.C. This is my first time visiting your blog, and I'm really enjoying looking around :)

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  15. Thanks for stopping by Clarissa! I was exploring your blog too. Great stuff!

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  16. Great post- I adore the quote! My friends always tell me I'm the optimist of the group. LOL

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  17. This is very very true - and a positive outlook can certainly make for a happier life, no matter what the Fates may throw at you!

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