Sunday, September 20, 2009

Speak pleasing words


A couple of days ago, I got an SMS from a friend. It said "If you have sweet eyes you will like the world; if you have a sweet tongue, the world will like you". What a powerful and practical thought!! If I had received this message a few years ago and had practiced the simple technique, I would have made many more friends...

Our tongue is something that needs to be managed well. It would be very harmful and dangerous if we allow everything that comes to our mind to be expressed by the tongue. In fact, we should think several times before we say something that could hurt or upset people around us. Even if what we speak is true, it should be said in an acceptable manner.

One good rule to follow is to think of something pleasing or positive to say to everyone we meet or interact with. We should train our minds to think in this manner. We should start every conversation and relationship with a remark or observation that compliments the other person. Not only will we win friends for life but we would also make the other person receptive to our thoughts.

Start this simple practice today. Be on the lookout to praise something in everyone. If we look carefully, we will certainly not be disappointed. Every individual indeed has strengths. If we keenly observe, we will find several strengths which can be pointed out or highlighted. Care to be taken not to overdo this and sound like flattery. The other thing that people like to hear is their own names - use it liberally in your conversations. You will capture peoples attention, minds and hearts through this.

"Kind words do not cost much. They never blister the tongue or lips. They make other people good-natured. They also produce their own image on men's souls, and a beautiful image it is" - Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around" - Leo Buscaglia

"Speak pleasing words about people in their presence as well as absence" - Vishwanath Seshadri

4 comments:

Pramoda Meduri said...

Hi...

I agree that when we speak something, we need to have a crosscheck many times before we spell it out. and that should be done by standing in other person's shoes ..that makes it all for us.

Some truths are very bitter, but at times u need to tell them, and u have no other way..buy by being positive in the attitude and positive approach can make the receiver very pleasant as well..

Thanks for the post :)

ramesh sadasivam said...

Hi Vish,

That is indeed a great message you received in your mobile. The thoughts that follow are equally good.

Thanks for sharing!

And yes, as pramoda says, some bitter truths have to be delivered at times. If we learn this art of sweet speaking, I am sure we can deliver it without making the concerned people feel bitter!

Manivannan Sadasivam said...

Vish I read this post the other day but was in a hurry. So didn't leave my comments.

But now what I thought has been beautifully shared by pramoda and my brother :-)

Thanks for this thought-provoking write-up.

Hema said...

One has to be very careful with words. One slip causes life time hurt. Better to be smiling and be silent.
Hema