Remember that song, "Bare careful little eyes what you see, Be careful little ears what you hear?" We hide deep truths in children's songs, and this is one of them. What you hear and what you see can have a profound affect on you, they can affect your mood, your attitude, your thoughts and your interaction with other people. They creep into your mind and your actions and make you into a different person.
The power of words hit home with two separate but similar instances last month. No names here, but there is a person who I see on a regular basis, who I spend time with, and who I get along with quite well. I had nothing much bad to say about this person, and was usually happy to be in their company.
Then someone else started talking about that person. They listed bad qualities, they said how that person was different, weird, frustrating. They talked about how others dind't get along with this person.
I had never thought of such things before! But those words stuck in my ears and settled in my thoughts. The nex time I saw the person in question I was grumpy, unhappy, watching for all of those bad qualities I had heard about. The person hadn't done a thing differently. It was all in my mind, all because I had let myself listen to bad talk.
Then, it happened again. Different persons, similar situation. We got along fine, I didn't think anything was wrong. Then I hear stories, and suddenly my perception changes. Not based on the person's actions, but based on what I let my ears hear and how I processed it.
Both times I had to take a step back, shake my head, and tell myself to stop. I had to re-organize my head and remember the person that I knew, not the person I had heard about.
Be careful what you hear. Other people's opinions, little words and small complaints can turn into a huge problem if we are not careul. I never would have thought that talking about someone could be so dangerous. But there you have it. Gossip is bad, and this is why. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
Seriously. How many times have you allowed your perceptions to be poisoned by another person's point of view? Sometimes, a warning about a dishonest person is necessary. But idle complaints, unkind mutterings, these are dangerous. Listen to the words you hear and take charge of them. Don't give your perceptions over blindly to another. More importantly, keep your own mouth clean. Every time your tongue moves, it will have an affect. What are you doing with the words you say? Do they really need to be voiced, or would it be better to just shut up?
We have a profound affect on each other as human beings. Social interaction is essential for our lives. Babies cannot survive without it. So take charge of who you are and the affect you will have on others.
Be careful, little tongue, what you say.
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