I had learn how to hit the reset button on my tongue when my words hurt someone I cared about, which of course was not my intent.
Have you ever done that?
Let your tongue loose with no filter, yes it can get ugly.
So what can be done to learn how to hit the reset button on your tongue?
Examine your tongue
What does the doctor do when you go in for a visit, yep gives you a thorough check. The same applies to your tongue. The first step in learning how to set the reset button on your tongue is to give your tongue an examination.
Look back on the conversations you have had in the past. Are you busy talking about everybody, putting people down or making comments that would hurt if they were around?
From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18: 20-21
The tongue is so powerful, it has the power of life and death. Carry that with you the next time your tongue gets away from you.
Admitting your mistakes
“It was my speech that was ill mannered and my tongue that needed taming”.
The hardest part when I was learning how to hit the reset button on my tongue was admitting fault.
Yes, that was my ego. You can read how Ego may be standing in the way of God’s plan here
Once I got over all the things I had done to deflect like blaming others, playing the victim and ignoring the problem, I was able to think clearly about what I had really done.
I was able to own the behavior.
Make amends
Making amends is all about committing to taking action. Here you have to choose which action to take? Denial, victim, blame?
If you really want to change those actions won’t help. That is only masking a problem.
Instead try communication. Yes, a healthy conversation that involves two willing participants, who respect each other enough to rationally and calmly talk out the problem. If you know you were at fault and the relationship is worth saving making amends will go a long way toward your friendship/relationship.
Do not dwell
Sometimes our mind gets the best of us and we dwell on the situation.
We’ve apologized and yet we don’t let ourselves off the hook. We replay the scenario like a broken record. The person you must forgive next is yourself.
In forgiving yourself you are able to really move on from the situation.
Take these keys to taming your tounge to heart, use them in your daily life to help you get through conflict and form better relationships with the people you care about the most.
Sara