The years passed, and Lily saw no glimmer of hope, but she knew that one day her chance would come... and it did. Everything else took a back seat when, at last, the moment arrived to work at what she had always dreamed of.
Running the household and raising two children was no obstacle to her dedication. Now she could shine, and she was determined not to let her light be dimmed. She just couldn't imagine that one day her boss's insensitive words would hurt her and plunge her into a fear that stifled her talent. Dreams turned into disappointment.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. Experiences like the one above are common in many places. The worst thing is that I have seen more examples than I would like. Hurtful words, without measure, that destroy everything in their path.
Many of us grew up watching the Matojo cartoons that made us laugh so much. I remember the one where a girl woke up, greeting everyone she saw, but without response. And although she arrived at school very sad, her face changed when Matojo said to her, “Good morning, Patricia.”
It has been proven that words have immeasurable power, both to uplift and to destroy. Learning to measure them, to choose them, is essential for everyone's balance. The right words can change our day, strengthen us. But at the same time, they build up those who utter them and give them the pleasure of doing well.
When empathy is above differences, we seek ways to “season” our words with understanding and to speak to others as we would like them to speak to us. These times rush us, but that is no reason to hurt others. Yes, hurt, because some expressions can “destroy” working relationships, friendships, and even take away our greatest desires.
The human brain is a huge computer that stores both the good and the bad. Of course, we can choose what we allow into our thoughts and focus on what really matters. But words have the power to stay in the mind and sink deep—at least in that moment—and they can mark and lacerate if they are not measured.
Sincerity is necessary, but it is even more necessary not to belittle anyone with what we say. This is very important for parents, who must strive to ensure that our children grow up confident in themselves. It is also important for those whose mission is to teach. But I invite you to find the right way to get attention. There is a very clear line between scolding and offending, between shaping and distorting.
It is not easy to lead a group; problems will exist to a greater or lesser extent. Concerns are overwhelming, and it is difficult to remain calm in the face of complaints when there are difficulties at home as well. But nothing justifies others losing motivation because they hear humiliating speeches from their superiors, when these should rather motivate, convince, and encourage... Positive words help reduce stress and even strengthen the immune system. Let's use them.
The saddest thing is that I know people who put their projects on hold just because someone told them they couldn't do it or that they lacked talent. And the worst thing was not what was said, but that they believed it and made it “their own.” They simply let those ideas take root in their minds and clip their wings.
We cannot allow negative phrases to dampen our spirits. Everything we once set out to do cannot remain mere dreams just because we made a mistake at some point, and the person who was supposed to teach us didn't use the right words.
In order for nothing to dampen our projects, self-confidence must prevail. That's why Lily turned the page and looked ahead again. Other words, this time uplifting ones, helped her understand how much potential she had inside her.