Hearing The Heart Behind The Words

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200 words, building community, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, heart, helpful, Homelessness, integrity, kindness, listen, meaning, Relationships, Taking offense, words, world issues

We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it. – Abe Lincoln

It astonishes me how many times I take things personally. The energy it requires to take offense can border on ridiculous.

Don’t get me wrong.

There are times when standing up against something offensive is warranted.

But we, as a society, have taken this too far for the most part.

I’ve spent a good chunk of my life working with vulnerable populations. Within this sector, well-meaning folks have declared certain terms offensive.

For example:

Many a supporter has said to me, “I’m concerned about homeless people and I want to help.”

Some might respond with, “…that offends me, I’d prefer if you said people who are experiencing homelessness.”

Instead of hearing the heart of the one who wants to help, they hear the words that offend them.

Ironically, those whom I have met living on the streets, refer to themselves as homeless people.

Yes, it’s important to not intentionally and maliciously offend, but it’s equally important to not be easily offended.

And so, I want to be someone who hears the heart behind the words.

Don’t you?

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

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200 words, Act, clarity, communicate, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, Foreign language, leadership, message, motivate, passion, perception, words

If a leader can’t get a message across clearly and motivate others to act on it, then having a message doesn’t even matter. ~ Gilbert Amelio

I wiped the sweat away from my forehead with the back of my hand and pointed to the ocean.

He raised his eyebrows questioningly.

Caliente. Mucho.

Que?

Have you ever tried to get a point across in a foreign language?

What if I told you that it can be just as difficult when both parties speak the same language.

A few years back a colleague was becoming increasingly agitated that some staff still didn’t know the direction and vision of our organization.

“We have to tell them,” I offered.

“We have told them. We sent that email…brought it up at the all-staff meeting, they’re just not listening!”

Words are a tricky thing. Even one word alone can mean a host of things to a host of people. If people are percieving the message in a way we did not intend, is that really their fault?

Perception is reality

If people aren’t hearing what you’re saying – maybe it’s time to change the way you’re saying it.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~