National Words Matter Week – March 5th – 11th, 2023

Greetings readers!

The first full week of March is National Words Matter Week. This year, that means March 5th – 11th, 2023. Words do in fact matter, but before we dive in any further, let’s look at this week’s affirmations:

  • I am completely in control of the words I speak.

  • I give positive compliments and suggestions. 

  • My words make a difference in other people’s lives.

Words are the building blocks of communication. No matter what language you use to speak words, whether they are written down or said out loud, whether they are in person or online… words matter. Words have the power to build people up in a positive way or hurt people. All ages are affected by the words they hear daily, especially youth. This is especially important for parents and guardians to remember because you do a lot of talking to your youth! And the way we talk to youth can influence their communication skills, and how they grow up to talk to others. Watch the video below to hear what this group of youth says about which words they hear most often from their parents and how those words make them feel.

That was a nice reminder of how the words we speak impact others, even if we have good intentions behind them (like trying to get your youth to clean their room or trying to encourage a friend to not buy that thing you know they will never use). Although the intent or the reason is good or important, sometimes people forget to pay close attention to what words they choose to use. 

Communication and choosing the right and kind words is a lifelong learning process. That is good news because it means we always have room to improve and choose our words with more thought behind them. Choosing your words carefully, especially during an argument or when you are feeling any sort of strong emotion, can be very difficult. Here are a few tips when it comes to communicating with others:

  • Be aware of your own emotions. If you are feeling very strong emotions, take a moment to remove yourself from the situation to gather your thoughts and take a few deep breaths before continuing the conversation. 

  • Come to the conversation with empathy, or try and understand what the other person might be thinking and feeling. The goal is for all people to feel understood and heard. 

  • Practice saying kind words. Give someone a compliment, or let someone know if they made you feel good. The more you speak kindly, and the more you choose words with more thought behind them, the easier and more natural it becomes. 

Here’s how YOU can be a Prevention Partner:

  • Use the three tips for communicating listed above. Communicating takes practice and that’s okay!

  • Be intentional with the words you choose. Being intentional means having a clear purpose or focus. When you speak to someone, think about what your intention is. Are you choosing words that communicate your wants, expectations, or feelings in an honest and kind way? 

  • Avoid hurtful and unkind words! Specifically, we are talking about name-calling or saying unkind things about people with the intention of hurting them. Practice spreading kindness through your words instead, in person and online! 

  • If you are a parent or an educator, consider introducing this topic to your youth. Start a conversation in the classroom or at home about how words matter and share the tips we have talked about today. Additionally, take into consideration the phrases or words your youth are hearing you say the most. Are there any areas where you can switch up the words you use, to be kinder or more intentional?

Remember, words matter! Happy communicating!