Your Words Matter and So Do Your Actions

In turbulent times such as these, I believe it’s important to remember that not everyone processes information in the same way, and speaking out takes more courage for some than others.

As someone who often lives in her head, it takes a lot of time for me to process events. I like to observe and research; seek perspectives from all sides of a situation before formulating an opinion I feel confident in. I spend a lot of time in self-reflection simply trying to figure out why I even feel the way I do.

We live in a technological era, providing us with access to events as they are happening in real time. And not only to the events, but to everyone else's thoughts and opinions on what is happening as well. A lot of information comes in in such a short period of time which can truly become overwhelming. And in events such as riots and protests, it is important to remember that a lot of events of this nature can be triggering for many. Some on an emotional level, some on a traumatic level.

There's an expectation with social media that people must respond to a situation immediately or else it must mean that they aren't aware or that they don't care. While I believe that can be the case for some, I don't believe its the case for everyone. And when a person feels they aren't met with openness and compassion, it might prevent them from opening up and sharing altogether. Create space for people to grieve, mourn, and heal rather than asking them to speak if they’re not emotionally available to do so.

Know this: Your words posses an energetic frequency. The words you choose matter. There is a difference between speaking out of an emotional response and out of a logical one. Your words matter, and so do your actions.

I encourage more people to pause, take a breath, tune out of the public media every once in a while, and self-reflect. I encourage more people to turn off the news and take action. Real action that can cause real change. What often takes even more courage than speaking up, is putting action behind your words. Or rather, what is often just as important as speaking up, is taking positive action. Some people are simply better at one than the other and there is nothing wrong with that.

Q's to ponder:

How can you shift from being reactive to proactive?

If speaking out isn't your strength, then what is?

What are you doing to better your community, your life and the lives of those around you?