Every year I seem to find one quote that is new to me and one that sticks in my mind. I share new year quotes with friends and family, but there is always one that seems to stand above the others. It is a quote that changes the way I think or results in a change in the way I do things. Some people pick a word for the year, I pick a quotation for the year. Sometimes I pick a new year poem that is encouraging and inspiring. I have many new year wishes that I send out to people and this year the wish included what I considered to be a quote that make people stop and think about what and how they are speaking to others.

This year I used this quote on the bottom of rocks that I paint. We sell these rocks at a gift store that we run. It was amazing to hear the comments from people as they picked up the rock and read the quote. It made some people really stop and think - you could see they had an "aha" moment. And, others commented on how the words were full of wisdom.

The quote that stuck with me this year is as follows:
"If the words you spoke were written on your skin would you still be beautiful."


Words Have Power
Words spoken can bring agreement, peace and harmony, but they can also bring arguments, disagreements, and altercations.

There are many Proverbs which discuss the use of words; and may you find wisdom in these short sentences.

"Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards." Proverbs 12:14 (NLT)

"Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed." Proverbs 12:19 (NLT)

"A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare." Proverbs 15:1 (NLT)

"Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:4 (NLT)

"The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21 (NLT)

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)

Many of us don't realize the power words have. The words we use impact and influence the people around us more than we realize. They can hurt, they can encourage, they can change a person, they can inspire, and they can offer support and comfort.


Words That Hurt
We can crush people with our words. In our anger we sometimes say things that we later regret. We speak without thinking; we let our emotions control our tongue rather than our brains. It is normal to have issues that disappoint us or upset us, but if we just react without thinking we can do more harm than good. There is always a way to say something without hurting the other person. It is not that you accept the situation or the behavior, but there is a way to express your feelings without damaging your relationship.

We can also hurt people by saying one thing and doing another. When they hear us but then when they see what we do it is two different things. People feel betrayed when this happens. When we speak we need to be committed to the words we say.


Words Can Change A Person
We can influence a person and actually change a person's thinking by the words we use. We can show kindness and empathy by the phrases we use and the actions we take.

For me words that can change a person are not only the words we use, but also the words we read. When reading I am always looking for that sentence that has wisdom and meaning in it. I usually write it down and put it with my collection of quotes. I can't tell you how many quotes that I have read and that have had a positive impact on my life. They have changed my thinking towards a situation, truly changed my attitude.


Words That Encourage
A simple "that is good", or "well done" can mean more to people than we may realize. When we offer words of encouragement to others we are building their confidence and helping them along the road to success. Taking the time to encourage others has an impact well beyond the time it takes to do it.

Teachers are a prime example of this. There is a saying, "to teach is to touch a life forever." One good encouraging teacher can influence a person's life - while they may live to 100 years old, that teacher who spent only one year with the person could have changed the direction of the person's life. I think we can all relate to this, as when we think back there is always that one teacher that stands out for us and it is the teacher who encouraged and saw potential in us.

Our words can give hope to a person; because of our belief it can motivate the person to continue or to change their direction.


Words That Inspire
The meaning of inspire is: "to fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative." The words we speak can have that impact on a person; it can be a factor towards their success or their failure. This is especially true in children. The praise we give them can inspire them in ways we could never imagine. We influence children by everything we say and do.

Leaders also have a knack for inspiring us. They influence our thinking and our actions. But great leaders are the ones who inspire people to move forward on their own accord. There is a saying that goes like this: "The best leaders of all, the people know not they exist. They turn to each other and say 'We did it ourselves'."


Words That Offer Support and Comfort
We all have trials in our life. There is no person that sails through life without challenges. And when those trials and challenges occur in a person's life do your words offer support and comfort? A few simple words can make a big difference in a person's life. We all need someone to listen to us, to be there for us, to care about us. And by offering our support we are demonstrating how much we care.

And during difficult times (a death, an illness) we all need words of comfort. Sometimes those words are no words, just being there for a person, sitting with them are more powerful than any words that can be spoken.


Are You Still Beautiful?
So going back to my original quote,
"If the words you spoke were written on your skin would you still be beautiful"
what would your skin look like. Do you think about what you say before you say it; do you offer reassurance and optimism; are your words patient and understanding; are you uplifting and motivating; are you words full of compassion and thoughtful? All things to think about before we open our mouths!





Inspirational Quotes for Reflection:
"One of the sources of success is our ability to change." Vlad Zachary

"In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you." Mortimer J. Adler

"Words can be a great encouragement, describe love, but they can also destroy if not used properly." William Hemsworth

"A person is only beautiful, when their own beauty, is reflecting on to others." Tara Grady

"I've studied successful people for forty years, and though the diversity you find among them is astounding, I've found that they are all alike in one way: how they think." John C. Maxwell

"People who are successful always talk about what they want and what they will do to achieve it. People who aren't talk about circumstances that don't let them live the life they want." Andrii Sedniev

"Everyone is in need of encouragement at some time. Take the opportunity today to encourage (give courage to) the one who often encourages you." David Jeremiah

"There is no beauty in receiving without giving. True compassion lies in what you can do for someone else." Olivia Benjamin

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