Winning Words 5/20/10
"If someone offers you a gift and you decline to accept it, the other person still owns the gift. The same is true of insults and verbal attacks.” (Steve Pavlina) From what I’ve read about Pavlina, his life could be called, checkered, to say the least. But he was able to take his problem-experiences and teach others how to rise above their own. This idea of how to handle insults and verbal attacks is just one example. ;-) Jack

FROM MK IN MICHIGAN: I love this, there are times I have a very sharp tongue I will keep this in mind! It is getting warm today Jack stay cool! FROM JACK: In the Bible, in the Letter of James, chapter 3, there's a "cool" description of the power of the tongue. I think you can Google it....the chapter, not the tongue.

FROM PRJS IN MICHIGAN: The same thing is true of God's gracious offer of love and forgiveness....it is there for us....all we have to do is say "thank you" FROM JACK: That's putting a positive spin on Pavlina's words.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: The difficulty I have in figuring out what I still own is when someone doesn't verbally decline but declines in their heart/mind. I once gave my husband a gift coupon to send away for a morel mushroom starting kit, which he never sent away for. He maybe figured it was foolish to even try but didn't want to say so. A lot of us have difficulty expressively declining because we don't want the further discussion so no one exactly knows who owns the gift or even the insult or verbal attack. In the case of the morel mushroom gift, the company really made out. I'm enjoying reflecting on these Winning Words today. One thing, I do think I am able to be expressive in prayers to God more than I am to any other person so all the stuff of the heart/mind do continue to get sorted out, some sort of truth is accepted between me and others and I don't need to worry too much about who owns what and know forgiveness is always available for each situation. FROM JACK: Maybe he forgot. Husbands are sometimes like that. MORE FROM SH: the morel saga continues. Here in Lansing they have a Michigania store. Found a book for another gift for my husband, Morels. Has a chapter on "Theorizing Morels" and "The Science of Morels." "The world is a fungal jungle." Doesn't that sound interesting? He should have some sort of present from this trip to Lansing.

FROM RP IN FLORIDA: Seems like I remember this winning word from my childhood as "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me" I always told my salespeople in training that NO is an indication to try harder or graciously withdraw, but it will never physically hurt you so learn to accept it in context. FROM JACK: Yours is good advice for those in the business of selling. Come to think about it, we're all in the business of selling (ourselves).

FROM MO IN ILLINOIS: That is a good one, and I really hadn't thought of ownership of verbal attacks! Fortunately I haven't had to deal with many of those, but I like the thought of rejection, and "ownership"! FROM JACK: The blog is helpful, because it allows readers to express other thoughts on the subject....like PRJS IN MICHIGAN.

FROM MOLINER CF: Unless you are stone deaf, insults and attacks are received; maybe not accepred, but received. FROM JACK: Maybe it's just selective hearing, but no "insults"' stick in my mind. Don't try to start now.