Think before you speak is a phrase that is said often in schools, families and other relationships. A couple of weeks ago, I shared an acronym that was helpful in tapping into your emotions, today I want to share another acronym that is super helpful in regards to relationships. T.H.I.N.K.
When you are considering speaking a thought out loud, run it through the following.
Is the thought/statement:
Thoughtful?
Helpful?
Inspiring?
Necessary?
Kind?
If it doesn’t align with any of these, it’s likely to do more harm than good to the relationship.
This acronym can be helpful to teach to kids, teens and adults alike. Words are so powerful and once we say something, we can’t take it back. We have a choice with our words to either build others up, or tear them down.
Verses to guide our speech
As someone of faith, there are a few verses I lean on to guide my speech. Whether you are a Christian or not, these are helpful principles. It doesn’t mean I am perfect, or that any of you won’t mess up (this is where an apology can make a world of difference). As we slow ourselves down, increase our self-awareness, we can choose an intentional response rather than an emotional reaction. Memorizing these verses can be helpful:
Eph 4:29 – Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
James 1:19 – Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
Proverbs 18:21 – …death and life are in the power of the tongue…
Proverbs 15:1 – A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. A question for you today, are your words building others up, or tearing them down. Your words have power in your relationships. Rather than looking at what the other person in the relationship is doing, it’s helpful to first look inward to areas we might need to change.
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