Day 87 - Wait a beat before responding.

I've always been one to say the first thing that comes into my mind; I'm a debater, which is not always a good thing because sometimes I end up speaking faster than my brain could stop me. I've been doing yoga now for over two years and I have learned so many amazing things, one of the things I've learned is practicing mindfulness and being present.

When I read today's deed I already knew what the lesson was - slowing down and thinking about things carefully before making a decision or even before responding to someone. Learning to press pause means listening and assimilating before opening my mouth. Today, while going through my day there were times where I wanted to voice out loud my thoughts right away, but instead I would press pause and once I allowed myself to think about it I realized it didn't need to be said at all.

There are many reasons why you should wait a beat before responding, but one of the main reasons is that words have power. People can be pretty careless when it comes to choosing the words that come out of their mouths. According to Psychology Today, words cannot change reality, but they can change how people perceive reality. Words create filters through which people view the world around them and a single word can make the difference between liking a person and disliking that person.

We have a choice every day to use our words to cut or heal. Every time we speak we have a choice, either to make others feel great - or horrible. With that power comes the responsibility and obligation to use it wisely. Words not only effect us temporarily, they can actually change us. Today, wait a beat before responding and use that beat to use your words wisely.♥