Words to Admire... People to Inspire!

Words... the smallest meaningful unit of [a] language. So many people use words to express emotions and feelings differently. We use words to describe feelings of anger, frustration, jealousy, accusations and gossip. Or words to express gratitude, love, hope, encouragement and kindness. Words are powerful and can leave a lasting impression on someone.

As a society we have changed the meaning of words and language has become slang, improper and inappropriate. Rather than use words to encourage others, we use words to degrade others, to criticize, to bully and to belittle. Recently I saw an advertisement by Always that proved how careless we use the phrase "like a girl." It's an insult used to stereotype an entire gender as incapable of doing something society believes everyone should be able to do a certain way.

So many people don't realize just exactly the damage their words cause to other people. Gossip is one of the most esteem-shattering problems in society. Rumors and gossip spread like fire, especially aided by technology, and there is almost nothing the victim can do to stop it. When you are in a situation in which the topic of discussion has turned to gossip, change the subject or leave the situation. It is better to stop rumors yourself rather than to just send them on to fit in.

I've learned that the smallest word of encouragement can make the world of difference to someone and you would never know. Just saying "hello" could make somebody's day who otherwise never gets talked to or gets verbally abused at home.  I once randomly told my sister she was beautiful and that made her day. Your words should reflect the kind of person you are.

Cursing and swearing is also another issue in society. Swear words that have become so commonly acceptable are in reality harsh, vulgar, unintelligent ways of expressing your feelings. Cursing is very repellent to people who are around you, and the words you speak influence the choices you make. A common problem people have is taking the Lord's name in vain. Using it to complain, or just casually throw around is offensive to God and to other people around you whether you know it or not. Be aware of who you are around and the situation you are in to watch how you speak.

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good." 

-Ephesians 4:29

The most powerful words come from God, the scriptures that He has provided for us, aka the Word of God. Blessings come from adhering to what God has commanded us and obeying His commandments, which include clean language and a respectable use of His name. (1 Nephi 15:24) .

Just remember that your words are a reflection of your true character and the person you are becoming. It might be hard to break a habit of swearing, or to stop gossiping, or to quit criticizing everyone, but the end result is worth it and you will feel uplifted and happier. 

What do your words say about you?

Perks of being an Ambivert!

For the longest time I thought I was an introvert. Someone who keeps to myself and constantly has a running monologue in my head, which I do. However at random times in my life, I had extroverted tendencies to speak my mind and take risks. I was confused at how I seemed introverted yet had those extroverted tendencies. I finally found the description of my dilemma, I am an ambivert. An ambivert is a blended balance of both introverted and extroverted personality traits. Most of society believes that in order to be socially successful you need to be an extrovert. If not, you're an outcast, a silent weirdo who has no social interactions ever. Well, what about those who can't comfortably speak to random strangers or feel the need to express our lives to everyone publicly? Introverts have been very much misunderstood, when in actuality introverts are very creative and intelligent people. As with the introverts, ambiverts are misunderstood and can be seen as a bipolar personality. To one group you're outgoing, to another you're a confident quiet type. For me, I lean towards the more introverted side of my personality when it comes to interacting with new people and a new environment. 

I have a few very close, tight-knit friends who I can trust everything with. I do have many other friends and acquaintances who I try to communicate with as best I can. Personally, as with introverts, I hate small talk, anything to spark a conversation I am terrible at, which I've known since I was young. However, if the person I am speaking with continues the conversation, I am much more likely to talk with them comfortably. This blend of extrovert/introvert gives me an advantage as I can easily switch from one side to the other as the situation sees fit. 

It does, however, have its downsides, as when I am in a group setting for a long period of time and my energy has drained but I can't get away without seeming rude. Or when I'm at home all day alone and my energy is back but I have nothing to do to use it. Being ambivert allows me the advantages of both sides, I can easily make friends, but only if I see it as a potentially good friendship. Otherwise I stay clear of people I don't want to hang out with. Other times, if I want to be friends with someone, I can't find the courage or energy to pursue that relationship, and as with most introverts, have to endure myself re-evaluating that situation and criticizing how I could have done something better. 

To get a better clue as to what I mean, here are a few details from a article by Diplateevo, to enlighten you on the subject:

• Ambiverts sit on the spectrum of social interaction right in between the introverts and extroverts. Ambiverts love spending time with people, but get tired after spending too much time around people. Ambiverts are also very capable of doing things alone, but spending an entire day alone can suck them into a depressed, unproductive mood.
• Ambiverts love interacting with people, but in a very purposeful way. Ambiverts can have extremely animated and interactive conversations, or mellow and meditative ones. Ambiverts will defend both their personal time as well as their social time.
• Ambiverts process information best when they process internally and externally. Ambiverts need time and space to process things on their own, but they also need people who they can trust to process things with externally. In order for ambiverts to fully process information, they usually need both.
• Ambiverts seek breadth of knowledge and influence, but dive deep when they are truly passionate. Ambiverts can be thought or action oriented, depending on the situation, but they are also oftentimes both.The challenge for ambiverts is finding one thing to stick with. Because ambiverts do well socially and individually, it’s easy for an ambivert to become the jack of all trades, having knowledge in many different areas but not necessarily an expert an any of them.
• Ambiverts tend to do well adapting to any situation that they are placed in, whether it be a loud social scene or a secluded environment. ( http://diplateevo.com/?s=ambivert )

As with most things, I need to work on approaching something new, whether it be a person, activity or place. All of us are flawed and I know that even with this ambivert personality, I need to work on blending myself into one person and not different halves of myself with different people. We all have things to work on and to continuously improve ourselves. 

A Quest of an Inspirational Outlook!

Hello! I am Jocelyn Trishell Hall. I am a junior in high school just trying to leave an inspirational mark on the world. My goals for this blog are to inspire and encourage anyone who may be struggling. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or more common a Mormon! I believe in God and know that he will always be there for you! Even though we are all imperfect, I hope my experiences and lessons learned will give hope and guidance during life's trials. Thank you for taking time to read what I have to share. I hope to be posting as often as I can.

I hope you have a good day!