When I was younger there was this saying that was heard often at school. It goes “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. If I remember correctly, my cousins and I would say this to each other when we were arguing and name calling. I have discovered though as I have gotten older, that the saying is not exactly true all the time.

There have been so many words said to me during my life and words that I have said to myself. Some positive and some not so much. When I was a traveling therapist, my last couple contracts were awful. I became an angry person and was constantly being told that. I was also told daily that I was a horrible OT. Those words broke me just as much as actual sticks and stones being thrown at me would have. I allowed those words to stick to me and break me until I believed every word that was being said to me. I was about ready to give up on being an OT because I truly thought that I was not good at it.

That is until I took a peds home health OT job in Fort Worth in February 2016. I was very apprehensive at first because I was still convinced that I was a bad person and therapist. In the past 2 years I have received emails and texts and have been told that what I am doing in my job is good. Emails from my boss saying that my work is excellent and that I am appreciated have been so encouraging. And, I work with an amazing group of people who are always supporting and encouraging each other. This job has given me so many great opportunities and experiences and my confidence is back…well most of the time at least.

The part of the phrase that says words will never hurt me I have come to find another meaning in. There is a choice in this. I can choose to continue to believe the words that were previously said to me that I believed but were not productive, or I can choose to not allow those words to hurt me. I can choose to have the encouraging words be the ones that I believe and listen to.

A couple months ago, I received an email that one of my co-workers had nominated me for Peak Performer at work. It made me feel good to think that someone thought of me, but in the back of my head, I never thought I would be one of the people chosen. Well, I was wrong. I was chosen as a Peak Performer in July. Today, I attended a program where I received a plaque. I was so encouraged by the words that were read from the nomination letter. And, having my boss sitting there with me was so encouraging. I don’t think the people who I work with know just how important each one of them are in building my confidence and knowledge as an OT and as a person in general. The words they say may not seem like much to them, but to me they mean the world.

This has been a reminder to me that the words I say to others also have some sort of meaning. I pray that I can be an encourager and give words to people that they can allow to stick and help them grow and discover their strengths and confidence.

What words do you need to choose to let go of? What words can you replace them with that can help you strength and confidence?

Who can you give encouraging words to today?