Category Archives: Word Shifts

Asking the Right Questions

Questions are good. The right questions are even better.

One of my struggles in writing “Shift” has been how to communicate my experiences and what I know without sounding authoritarian. This is not about following rules. This is about personal freedom.

Over many years, I’ve learned techniques that work. One of those techniques is questions. Another is telling stories. A third is paradox or unusual juxtapositions of words.

The latter jolts people out of their conditioned linear thinking. Linear thinking simply cannot communicate wholistic understanding, connection, and clarity.

Patterns in Our Words

We all assume our words tell us something about the real world. They don’t. They tell us about the way each of us sees the real world. In other words, our words speak volumes about each of us!

Am I trying to make you self-conscious about what you say? Perhaps not self-conscious, but at least conscious.

Assume someone calls you a rotten pig. Does that mean you really are a rotten pig? Those words say absolutely nothing about you. They say boatloads about the way the speaker views the world.

Do you want to spend your time with a person who sees you as a rotten pig? I sure don’t. I distance myself from people like that as fast as I can. I deserve better than that, and so do you.

How would you like people to see you? As being courageous? Then use courageous words. As kind and compassionate? Then use kind and compassionate words.