Today’s Mandala Message: What You Say To and About Others Matters
This week I’m working through Principles #50 and #51 from Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles” entitled “Tell the Truth Faster” and “Speak with Impeccability”. I set my intention today to ponder how what I say to and about others matters. Canfield states: “If we look back through history, all the world’s highest and most respected beings and spiritual teachers have warned us against gossip and judgment of others. … I have had to learn the hard way that when I gossip about another person, it (1) brings me down in the moment, (2) focuses my attention on what I DON’T want in my life—rather than creating more of what I DO want, and (3) it literally wastes my breath.”
He offers some suggestions on speaking more impeccably when addressing others:
- ”Make a commitment to be impeccable in your speech when talking to others.”
- ”Make an effort to appreciate something about every person you interact with.”
- ”Make a commitment to tell the truth, as best you can, in all of your interactions and dealings with others.”
- ”Make it the intention of every interaction with others that you uplift them in some small way.”
Just today I was talking with someone about another person we both know who wasn’t there with us. We mostly talked about how uncomfortable we felt being around this other person, trying to figure out what it was and how best to deal with it. I’m not sure if this qualifies as gossip. I do know we were both doing our best to be neutral about it. If I had it to do over again, I would have also said something that I appreciate about that other person. In future I’ll be sure to be mindful of incorporating Canfield’s suggestions.
A good mindfulness practice would be to notice what you say when talking to and about others.
So how about you? Do you pay attention to what you say to and about others? Do you ever think about what you appreciate about the people you interact with? Would setting an intention to uplift others in some small way be something you could be mindful of doing?
“I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever,
— Benjamin Franklin
not even in a matter of truth;
but rather by some means
excuse the faults
I hear charged upon others,
and upon proper occasions
speak all the good I know
of everybody.”
Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.
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