Quotes and Wisdom
from the Top of the Mind™
from the Top of the Mind™
Communication #2
"Words are the ambassadors of our intentions. How we say what we say makes a statement about who we are."
While many people are aware of the importance of choosing one's words with care, I have chosen this quote from media coach and marketing specialist, Susan Harrow, because it seems to go beyond the old adage of "it's not what we say, but how we say it." For example, in addition to reinforcing what we already know in terms of how we speak to others, Ms. Harrow also refers to a philosophy that is near and dear to my heart, i.e., that what we think, feel, do, and say makes a statement about who we are and who we are becoming.
In my humble opinion, this perspective goes way beyond "saying things the right way" (which is often only a mask for our fear of saying things the wrong way) and speaks to a much more important concept . . . that we are defining who we are every minute of every day, not only by our actions (words), but also by our thoughts and emotions. Can you see how adoption of this perspective could shine a new light on how we create our experience of life? Can you see how it could also apply to couples, families, organizations, and even nations?
In fact, on one level, some nations are already coming from this perspective in that they choose people to represent them to others, and call these people "ambassadors." Further, the way we define the term "ambassador" is congruent with this concept. For example, the Encarta World English Dictionary reflects this representative nature in its definition:
Ambassador:
"A diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by one country as its long-term representative to another.
Somebody who serves as an official representative of something, for example, a movement.
Somebody or something regarded as an unofficial representative or a symbol of something."
Notice how the term "represent" is included in some form in all of the different definitions. If we break that word down, we have "re - present," and then if we apply it to this week's quote, we see how our words are "re-presenting" or making a statement about our intentions, and thus serve as a symbol of who we are to others.
Of course, in order for these ambassadors/words to represent us in a way that fosters more cooperation than conflict, we must be willing to choose them with care, and then take responsibility for that choice. And, for those of you who have been following my weekly quotes or who have heard me speak, you know that this means that we must be coming from the "Top of the Mind," or the part of our brain that can make these purposeful choices.
Given all of this, the questions we can take from this week's quote are:
• Have we been choosing our words or ambassadors "on purpose," or in a way that reflects their importance ("highest rank") and in a way that is designed to produce a "long-term" effect with others?
• Are we choosing what we say in a way that represents who we are and who we are becoming?
• Are these ambassadors reflecting our true intentions and how we want to be seen by those with whom we interact?
The nice things about questions such as these is that they can be both a process of discernment and a prescription for the future. In other words, if we find that the answer to these questions is often "no," then we can immediately ask, "Okay, what would it look like if I were...":
• Choosing my words/ambassadors on purpose, or in a way that reflects their importance ("highest rank") and in a way that is designed to produce a "long-term" effect with others?
• Choosing what I say in a way that represents who I am and who I am becoming?
• Having these ambassadors reflect my true intentions and how I want to be seen by those with whom I interact?
Once we have answered these "neocortex questions" and thus have an image of what this way of life might look like, we can begin practicing these more purposeful ways of speaking and being with others, for if we have learned anything from our many years on the planet, it's that life will always give us plenty of opportunities to practice.
The only question now is whether we will practice on purpose and appoint our "Top of the Mind" ambassadors to promote clarity, confidence, and creativity . . . or continue to send the ambassadors of the "undermind" into the world and thus continue to deal with the consternation, confusion, and conflict they so easily produce? Here's to choosing our next appointments "on purpose."
In my humble opinion, this perspective goes way beyond "saying things the right way" (which is often only a mask for our fear of saying things the wrong way) and speaks to a much more important concept . . . that we are defining who we are every minute of every day, not only by our actions (words), but also by our thoughts and emotions. Can you see how adoption of this perspective could shine a new light on how we create our experience of life? Can you see how it could also apply to couples, families, organizations, and even nations?
In fact, on one level, some nations are already coming from this perspective in that they choose people to represent them to others, and call these people "ambassadors." Further, the way we define the term "ambassador" is congruent with this concept. For example, the Encarta World English Dictionary reflects this representative nature in its definition:
Ambassador:
"A diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by one country as its long-term representative to another.
Somebody who serves as an official representative of something, for example, a movement.
Somebody or something regarded as an unofficial representative or a symbol of something."
Notice how the term "represent" is included in some form in all of the different definitions. If we break that word down, we have "re - present," and then if we apply it to this week's quote, we see how our words are "re-presenting" or making a statement about our intentions, and thus serve as a symbol of who we are to others.
Of course, in order for these ambassadors/words to represent us in a way that fosters more cooperation than conflict, we must be willing to choose them with care, and then take responsibility for that choice. And, for those of you who have been following my weekly quotes or who have heard me speak, you know that this means that we must be coming from the "Top of the Mind," or the part of our brain that can make these purposeful choices.
Given all of this, the questions we can take from this week's quote are:
• Have we been choosing our words or ambassadors "on purpose," or in a way that reflects their importance ("highest rank") and in a way that is designed to produce a "long-term" effect with others?
• Are we choosing what we say in a way that represents who we are and who we are becoming?
• Are these ambassadors reflecting our true intentions and how we want to be seen by those with whom we interact?
The nice things about questions such as these is that they can be both a process of discernment and a prescription for the future. In other words, if we find that the answer to these questions is often "no," then we can immediately ask, "Okay, what would it look like if I were...":
• Choosing my words/ambassadors on purpose, or in a way that reflects their importance ("highest rank") and in a way that is designed to produce a "long-term" effect with others?
• Choosing what I say in a way that represents who I am and who I am becoming?
• Having these ambassadors reflect my true intentions and how I want to be seen by those with whom I interact?
Once we have answered these "neocortex questions" and thus have an image of what this way of life might look like, we can begin practicing these more purposeful ways of speaking and being with others, for if we have learned anything from our many years on the planet, it's that life will always give us plenty of opportunities to practice.
The only question now is whether we will practice on purpose and appoint our "Top of the Mind" ambassadors to promote clarity, confidence, and creativity . . . or continue to send the ambassadors of the "undermind" into the world and thus continue to deal with the consternation, confusion, and conflict they so easily produce? Here's to choosing our next appointments "on purpose."
Take care and God bless, Dr. Bill