Words vs. Actions

What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Hmmm. That gets one to thinking, doesn’t it? My mind starts running in a million different directions – applying it to myself, applying it to business, applying it to politics and culture. And I can look at it from both a “negative” and “positive” perspective.

Negative: Our behaviors and actions are so dichotomous to our words that the former cancels out the message of the latter.

Negative: Our methods and ethics (or lack thereof) in the marketplace void any marketing or messaging we may create.

Negative: Our politics and governmental praxis are in such contrast with our self-proclamation that we no longer have credibility.

Positive: Our behaviors and actions speak so profoundly that our words are not necessary.

Positive: Our quality of service and product is so stellar that our marketing can sustain itself on word-of-mouth.

Positive: Our national policy and governmental spending is so consistent with our values and beliefs that we no longer need press secretaries.

What if the positives were true? In our lives, in our work, in our world? What if we focused so intently and passionately on our behaviors and actions that our words became secondary? Not unnecessary, but tangential to the consistent and lived expression of who we are?

Here’s one of the (many) challenges for me in this: I love words! I love talking! I love writing! I love blogging! And yes, I love Twitter! I have to ask myself if all those words are reflective of who I am, how I act, how I “be.” If they are no more and no less than one way in which I’m expressed and experienced. Hopefully, most of the time, almost always, usually, this is true. I’ve worked pretty hard the past 7 or 8 years in my life to make sure my words are in alignment with what’s happening internally and externally. Far easier said than done. But even harder? Trusting that I can actually communicate, get my point across, and be heard…without words.

Seems worth considering, worth pondering, worth wondering about, worth trying.

Given that I’m spending the next two days leading a workshop – and doing LOTS of talking – this may not be the best practice to employ immediately. But still. How might I be mindful of how I’m experienced, how aligned my internal world is with the external words, how present I am to those I am working with and for? And further, will I pay attention to the words spoken by others – or not? Will I be aware enough of what’s going on in and around me that my behavior becomes what prompts and motivates my actions vs. just using words that speak to such.

And there’s more: how might I think about my business (1 week officially launched yesterday!) as an extension and reflection of my words, of my heart, of me…not as just the words I’ve so carefully and painstakingly smithed? How might I think about the world in which I live, and this country specifically, in a way compels me more to action than just talking (translate: complaining)?

Hmmm. That gets one to thinking, doesn’t it? Thanks Ralph.

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