Babies begin life with a blank page of endless opportunities. We should all be selective about the words we write in the book of a child’s life. Will we write words of encouragement, love, and compassion; or will we plaster the pages with hate, limitation, and resentment?
Have you ever heard someone announce loudly my child is a terrible two-year-old?
Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker and author says, “instead of saying the “terrible twos” say they are the terrific twos, the tremendous threes, the fantastic fours, the fabulous fives, the super sixes, the sensational sevens. And guess where his or her self-image is because we believe that? That’s right, he or she will have a healthy self-image because that input has been enforced and reinforced.”
Words have power! Always start by saying something positive to yourself and others.
How can you do this?
1) Take a second to Stop and Think before you speak.
2) Say something positive and motivating.
3) Tell them you care about them, believe in them, and love them.
Choose your words wisely.
If the President of the company you work for came over and complimented you with a smile on his or her face and said, “If you keep working like this you’ll be President of the Company one day!”
Would you be encouraged and inspired to work harder for your boss, the President of your company?
Of course you would!
Positive words of recognition, inspiration, and encouragement make better employees!
Jim Sundberg played for the Texas Rangers and later for the world champion Kansas City Royals as a catcher. As a child in Fresno, California his father would watch him play baseball and said to him, “One of these days, you’re going to grow up and be a Major League ballplayer.”
Jim said, “My Dad planted in my mind what I would be in the future.” He planted words of belief, hope, and care!
His father planted the seed in his mind when he was a child!
Jim Sundberg and Bill Glass, all American football player and NFL star were leading a prison ministry in one of the prisons. During a break, Jim said to Bill, “You know, I’m so glad I didn’t grow up and disappoint my dad.”
Nearby a prisoner was standing close to them and said, “Well, you know what? I really didn’t grow up and disappoint my dad. I’m exactly where he said I was going to be.”
When Jim Sundberg was a child his father planted the seed in his mind that he would be a great ball player!
The prisoner’s father when he was a child planted in his mind what he would become.
Your words have power. Choose them carefully!
How can you choose your words wisely?
1) Take a second and stop and think carefully before you speak!
2) Say something positive and motivating.
3) Tell them you care about them and love them.
Plant good seeds of hope and positive encouraging words!
Thomas Edison at 7 was a poor student in school and the teacher called him “addled”. (Scrambled) His mother was a trained teacher and decided to remove him from the school to teach him at home. Mrs. Edison changed the picture of how Thomas saw himself!
Thomas Edison many years later said, “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me, and I felt I had someone to live for, someone I must not disappoint.”
Plant positive words (seeds) of success in your children, in your students, in your family members, and your employees and they will work harder and happier for you!
A positive word of encouragement can help change anyone’s destiny.
Choose your words “wisely”.
My favorite saying is “every student is a gem in the raw.” Start with that thought and work with your students. Believe that each of your students, on the first day of school, wants to learn your course and desires to learn.
As a teacher my greatest joy is to see a student realize their potential and work towards their goal. One day, I received a call from a mother of a high school student. She said, “My husband’s employer recommended you as a violin teacher for my son. I would prefer a man to teach him, but will give you a try. My son is lazy and stupid.”
I replied, “Please do not talk that way about your son in front of him or to others.”
I agreed to teach her son, if she would say “only encouraging words” to him.
At our first violin lesson a young man with multi colored hair, an earring, and strange looking clothes walked into the room. His head was down and he looked unhappy.
We began to work on scales, his solo piece, and the orchestra audition materials for the state orchestra auditions. He was a remarkably talented young violinist and I told him so during our first lesson and all the lessons that followed. My honest sincere words to him inspired and motivated him to do his best work.
At his next violin lesson, a completely different young man eagerly walked up to my classroom. He had his head up, he wore a smile, and was neatly dressed. Because I was investing in him and his potential, he began to take pride in himself and his work. Each week I saw a transformation in him.
It was our fifth week of lessons, our final lesson before the state orchestra auditions. I told him how beautiful his playing was and what a good job he would do on the audition. Preparation makes all the difference! “The honest sincere words that I spoke to him made him blossom like a flower.”
A few days after the audition he called and said with great pride and a smile in his voice, “I am the Concertmaster of the orchestra. I won first place out of over 40 people trying out.”
I congratulated him and told him how proud of him I was and that I knew he would win because of his "hard work and determination”.
His Mother called and said, “Even though you are a woman, you did a good job with him!”
This young man’s picture of himself had changed. Because of the positive inspiring words of encouragement, I gave him each week, and his hard work he began to believe in his abilities! He graduated high school at the top of his class and went on to college.
The picture of how you see yourself is so important!
Words have power.
Many years ago, I received a call from a mother with a 6-year-old boy who was failing out of first grade. She said he is “lazy and stupid”. I immediately asked her to not say that to him ever again. She should say “positive encouraging things” to him!
She brought him over with the violin she had rented and I smiled at him and showed him how to hold the violin and bow, how to read the musical notes on the score, and where to put his fingers on the violin to play his first piece of music. Each step of the way I told him what a good job he was doing. I told him what a smart intelligent young man he was.
I asked his Mom what usually happens after school. She said, “he plays video games and watches TV.”
I said, “Have him practice his violin for twenty minutes after school each day and then have him do his homework for school with Mozart Symphonies playing softly in the background.
After his work is complete he can for 20 minutes play a video game or watch TV.
Each week he gained confidence in himself as he practiced his violin each day, took violin lessons, and improved in doing his school work. He began bringing in his spelling words for his tests to his violin lesson to go over the most difficult one or two words on his list. We would incorporate them into his violin lesson.
Each week I would tell him how well he was playing and his smile lit up the room. After three months his Mom said he is becoming a wonderful student! After a year he was the most positive, motivated, handsome and happy young fellow looking forward to second grade.
What 3 things can you do to say positive words to others?
1) Take a second to Stop and Think before you speak.
2) Say something positive and motivating.
3) Tell them you care about them and love them.
The picture of how you see yourself is so important!
Words have power. Think before you say something to another person.
Make sure the words you speak to others make them feel appreciated and valued.
Always say something positive and uplifting to others.
Words of praise last a life time and so do negative words.
Which words would motivate you to work harder?
Positive encouraging words!
Step back before you speak and choose your words carefully!
Choose words that are Positive and motivating! Show respect and love!
Madeline Frank, Ph.D., is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, speaker, business owner, teacher, concert artist, and parent. She helps businesses and organizations “Tune Up their Business”. Her observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business successful. Her latest book “Leadership On A Shoestring Budget” is available everywhere books are sold. If you need a virtual speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com
