More than words

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Maya Angelou

It’s not just what we say that matters — but how we say it. While preparing for an essay workshop, I ran across some notes I’d made about the importance of “voice and tone” in our writing. Since most personal essays are conversational, our job as writers is to draw readers into the heart and soul of our stories. We want others to relate to our experiences.

The same is true when we’re talking with someone. Our tone of voice carries our intention, and everything we share out loud has a degree of emotional impact on the person who is listening. We shouldn’t underestimate this aspect of communication. How do your words make others feel? Before you write it — or say it — consider your motivation. Happy weekend to all! ~CL

** Speaking of communication ... My latest column on Substack features a tool for engaging in difficult conversations — including political discussions — and keys to understanding people who think differently than we do. You can read it here.