Author Don Miguel Ruiz asks us to be impeccable with our words. “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.” Taking his cue, I find two of our common sayings to be oxymorons…impossible and incongruous.
Take the overused “guilty pleasure.” If it is truly pleasurable, it brings joy and sensual delight. There is no room for guilt which is a dense, negative emotion. On the other hand, if it is riddled with guilt, then you can’t possibly be experiencing true pleasure.
And, how about “a labor of love” which is weighted with the implication that you did something that you didn’t want to do out of love and sacrifice? If you were truly feeling generous and magnanimous you wouldn’t consider it a labor. It would feel like a joyful giving that energizes you, too. Maybe the purpose of the phrase is to identify the resentful, resistant action done for someone else. It might work for some to attach a tail of dense, hidden, confusing meanings to their expressions. Not for me. I try to choose my words carefully to say only what I mean, and I appreciate that sincerity when others speak to me. It takes some awareness to keep our thoughts and words in harmony, but it feels really good to be honest and genuine and it takes the guesswork out of a conversation when you can trust that the other person is taking responsibility to be true to their word, too.
Thank you for your impeccable words filled with love Ellie!
Thank you for your impeccable words of Love, Ellie!