Be impeccable with your word

Last week we talked about The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. We focused on the third agreement which is, ‘Don’t make assumptions.’  This week let’s look at the first agreement ‘Be impeccable with your word’

It is said that this is the first and most important of the agreements because words are so powerful. I believe this is true. Words have the power to make situations better or make them escalate. Words can invoke love or fear depending on how they are used. Words can be used to uplift or tear down.

At times words have been used to tear people down on social media especially the last few years. People use words on social media that they would not say face to face. Words have caused much separation in people in all areas of our lives.

Words have also been the foundation of beautiful relationships and communities on social media. People have uplifted and supported each other with kind, compassionate words.

Whenever we hear an opinion and believe it, we make an agreement, and it becomes part of our belief system. From then on, we find things that validate that belief, so we are right. In the book, there is a story about a little girl whose mom came home from work with a headache, and told her daughter to shut up, that she had a terrible voice, and it was making her headache worse. She made the decision to not sing any more, even though she loved to sing.

Words are powerful.

And people can project onto us what they are feeling inside. That’s where ‘don’t take anything personally’ agreement comes in.

We can’t control how others will receive the words we say. Being conscious of our words can keep us from projecting onto our loved one, something that’s bothering us in the moment, that they might remember long after that emotion has passed. I have missed the mark on that more times than I want to admit.

Being impeccable with our word means being truthful even when it’s difficult.

‘How much you love yourself and how you feel about yourself are directly proportionate to the quality and integrity of your word.’

When we change the world changes.