What you say, what I say, is important.  It has power.

Our words can lift others up, make folks feel good, protect them from hurtful feelings, and more.

Words can also cut and hurt.

They can destroy a relationship, hurt your family, ruin a kid’s self esteem, bring bad feelings or cause a crisis in  your organization, get you fired, and even cause someone to hurt themselves.

In addition, the WAY we say something is important.  Your tone and body language communicate as much or more than the words themselves.

If you say something hurtful or in a hurtful way, be sure to apologize and ask for forgiveness as quickly as possible.  They may not forgive you right away; but, at least you took responsibility for your actions.

In our close personal relationships with a spouse, children, and family it’s even more important to repair our relationship after we have used words to hurt.  Words can destroy trust and the desire to be close to each other.

We all make mistakes with our words.  Remember the power that they have.  Our words can live rent free in someone’s head forever.

When it comes to communicating on social media, you and your organization don’t need a complicated policy manual.  Instead, a good rule is to just never say anything you wouldn’t want your mother to see or hear.

On the Internet, your words will last forever.  Future relationships, spouses, employers, clients, will be able to see them – forever.  Those words aren’t easily retracted or forgiven.

Be careful out there.