Communication is probably the most beautiful and most complicated thing on Earth. It has so much potential – and so much potential for misunderstanding.
When I say something that hurts you, I can naturally assume that this is not my fault as I did not intend to hurt you. So no reason to apologize, to admit that I was wrong (it is so hard to be wrong!).
But what if I was responsible for my words hurting you? What if I took ownership of whatever I am saying and the impact it has? What if I would apologize and express that I am sorry?
It is true that it’s not my fault when somebody gets me wrong or is hurt by what I am expressing when I did not mean it. It might have landed completely different with them. It might have triggered something I have no control over.
And yet, what I do have control over are my words. And words are powerful. They can change the world.
When I do take full responsibility for everything I say, no matter what the other person said or did, when I do take myself and every word I express seriously, we can have a truly adult conversation. If everybody would do that, wouldn’t that make a huge difference in the world?
“The moment you accept responsibility for EVERYTHING in your life is the moment you gain the power to change ANYTHING in your life.” – Hal Elrod