Be impeccable with your word

In the past few years, I find myself getting into a “focus of the month” mode.   It is an interesting exercise.   I’m not sure how it started.     I find myself thinking deeply about an area of personal growth, life, living, and so on.

A few months ago my focus was on communication.   “Be impeccable with your words” one of the Four Agreements in Don Miguel Ruiz’s book on Toltec teachings was foremost in my mind.   Having worked in communications for more than 20 years now, I am keenly aware of the value of communication.   How we communicate, on every level, deserves some daily introspection and assessment.

But what does it mean to be “impeccable with your word?”     I have heard parents use horrible language with their children and sometimes spouses screaming at each other.   What impact do those words have, especially on children?   People saying what they “didn’t mean to say” – being impeccable with your word, means being disciplined enough not to say something you “didn’t mean to say.”  

“Be impeccable with your word.  Speak with integrity.  Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others.  Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.”  -Don Miguel Ruiz.

Don’t “speak against yourself” and I might add that we shouldn’t be doing this with internal dialog either!     I think our internal dialog is also deserving of some analyses.

Are you impeccable with your word?