The words we use are important. Sounds obvious enough but I want us to take a moment and think about the following.
Perhaps the easiest way to look at this is through an everyday example.
Say, you have a busy week, and someone asks to meet for a coffee, you can say “I can squeeze you in at 2pm on Friday” or you can say “I can make time for you at 2pm on Friday.” Can you see the huge difference in those two responses.
The word “squeeze” suggests to the person that they are just that being “squeezed” in. The language may seem innocent enough but when you dig down below the surface and into the subconscious nuances, you can see it comes across as negative.
Not only does it affect the way they see and view the catch up, but it also affects the way you think. If you are “squeezing” someone in, are you really appreciating them, showing them that you care and want to spend time with them?
When you say that “you are making time” your mindset is different, you are already choosing to make them a priority. Choosing to make the time.
I often say “I’m, sorry I did not have the time to do that” when actually I should be saying “I’m, sorry I did not make the time to do that.” The first denies responsibility and blames it on some other thing whilst the second response is one that owns my choices, owns what I have chosen to do or not to do with the time I have.
Taking ownership of the language we use allows us to be more real with ourselves and those we talk to. We so often just go into automatic pilot and don’t think about what we say.
I wonder if this week we can challenge ourselves to choose our words with more care, to be mindful and present when we are speaking to others. To own what we say and how we say it.
Remember that words are important.