You are a 'Warrior with Words'

How many moments have you had in your life when someone said something about you and it affected you greatly? Or a time when the words chosen filled you with everything you needed?
We often think of those special moments, when we ask someone to marry us or when our parents tell us the things we have always wanted to hear, but sometimes these moments come out of no where. 
It is only when we look back that we realise these moments have a profound effect on our direction and journey. MY story as a 'Warrior with Words' tells this.

I was at a Toastmasters meeting at my home club in Vienna and giving a speech from the Success Leadership Series which would contribute towards my leadership aspirations in the club as it would complete the Advanced Leadership Bronze award I was aiming for. Each Toastmasters speech is also given an evaluation, by a more experienced Toastmaster. This provides the speaker with some praise and criticism about the different aspects of their speech and helps them to improve.

Personally, I joined Toastmasters as a way to practice. Having been a performer for 10 years, I am accustomed to speaking and singing in front of others and many questioned in the beginning why I wanted to join Toastmasters. For me, my purpose was clear. To really hone my skills and to learn from others. It is a forum where all sorts of speakers can extend and improve their skills and it has certainly been a good basis for me to discover useful techniques, tips and to also see what I could do myself. I see what works for others and what does not and can apply these learnings in my own way. I also saw it as a way to learn leadership skills and at the time of this advanced speech, I was the current President of the Club.

My evaluator for the evening gave her speech during the evaluation session. My speech has been on how to run productive meetings and so she focused on several of the aspects I was supposed to cover. Then she said something I will never forget and it came quite out of the blue. She said 'David you are a real warrrior with words and your command of the English language is inspiring to listen to, I could listen to you speak all day.' At the time I blushed and thanked her for such a lovely compliment.

A few weeks ago, I launched my idea of a workshop series, which I call 'Warrior with Words' as I believe everyone can learn to use their language in positive ways and to improve how they communicate with others. My use of the term Warrior here does not mean someone violent and aggressive but rather more someone who comes from the background of martial arts. Besides my love of performing, I have always been keenly interested in martial arts.

In my 20's I studied Taekwondo and Hapkido, both Korean Arts for awhile, before in my 30's trying out Karate, first taking my son and continuing well after he stopped! The only reason I stopped Karate is that we moved to Vienna, Austria. I really love the ideas of martial arts some of which has now inspired my ideas and philosophy of being a Warrior with Words.

For me, a Warrior, martial artist or someone in touch with themselves and who they are, display certain qualities that effect their whole behaviour including their speech. These include:

• a Wholistic Sense - they encompass the mental, emotional and physical parts of themselves
• Presence - being aware and present in the moment. Listening and reacting
• Being Selfless - seeing always how to help others, with a word or a deed
• Highly developed skill - a Warrior knows what they know and continues to develop their skills
• Command of self - they know who they are and what they want to achieve
• Emotionally stable - emotions are messages and chemicals. A warrior knows when and how to use their in appropriate way
• Energy - a Warrior uses energy and harnesses their energy resourcefully
• Readiness - a martial artist is ready. Alert, responding. There is a clarity to being ready.

These are the aspects I consider a 'Warrior with Words' to have in their daily life and especially when they speak or interact with others. Our words have the power to heal, help, unlift or crush and make small. We need to choose our words wisely and speak from our authentic essence. How you develop your authentic essence is through practice, training and attention. We have to be specific about what we want and then allow the Universe to lead and guide us. By taking action and responding to what the world delivers us with a Warrior spirit.

I encourage you to become a 'Warrior with Words'. Train your skills, learn the basics and continue to develop. Have fun along the way and inspire others through your words and your actions.