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Choose Words Carefully
Words can kill! Choose the wrong words and they can kill a relationship.
In fact, words have two meanings: denotation and connotation. Denotation is easy: the definition of the word. We learn those in school. Connotations, however, are the real-world emotional responses some words can bring about. Connotation is the concepts and ideas that come to mind when the word is spoken, which are sometimes rooted in its definition, and sometimes not.
Assignment
Make an inventory of emotionally charged words and phrases, and consciously begin to eliminate that language—those words—from your vocabulary.
Some words are deadly in and of themselves. You would never consider using the “n” word for any reason to anyone. Its definition ...

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