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Magic Words or Tragic Words?

The old saying, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is a little misleading. Words have amazing powers, both positive and negative. Words, both in written form and spoken form, can change the way we feel and act.

Words can make us laugh, cry, and cooperate. They can also cause hurt feelings, anger, and irritation.

Spoken words have extra power, as there is the added factor of emotion and tone of voice.

Our mind is talking all day. You have around 50,000 thoughts each day, all delivered by your inner voice. If you ensure that most of your thoughts are positive, you will give yourself a big advantage in life and will feel charged up from within.

When it comes to talking out loud, you've probably also heard the saying, “If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.” Very true, and a saying I'd advise you to live by.

When I worked for a big company, the rumor mill worked overtime. People gossiped, started rumors, and generally bad-mouthed each other. They'd tell me about Joe down the corridor, and so on, but I would stay out of any gossip. Those who talk about others behind their backs will talk about you, too. That's a fact.

Don't get involved in these types of conversation. Rise above them, and I guarantee you will gain more respect. In today's electronic age, this also applies to e-mails, chat rooms, and Facebook. Think twice before posting any message you may later regret. Posting anonymously isn't a ...

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