One of the practices I've been doing is writing down 10 ideas a day, as per
james altucher.Inspired by this post/thread to really consider and implement Right Speech, my 10 ideas today were strategies for "doing" Right Speech. After I wrote them down, I felt the urge to share, so here they are:
# 1 #
Speak less.
Actively strive to say very little. That way, less opportunity to indulge in
Wrong Speech.
# 2 #
Breathe (or any mindfulness-inducing practice).
Use whatever practice is available to strive for constant presence, constant
heedfulness. This should slow down (or at least make more apparent), the
reactivity with which most speech occurs. And hopefully will present
opportunities for speaking more heedfully.
# 3 #
Listen.
Instead of waiting for my turn to speak, planning what I will say, strive to
listen with all my being to what the other person is saying.
# 4 #
Initiate fewer conversations. Kind of a tactic to reinforce Speak Less.
# 5 #
Reflect.
Start a Right Speech journal. At the end of each day, review the various speech
actions I've made and assess whether they were heedful and skillful.
This will reinforce mindfulness/heedfulness over time, and perhaps even help
uncover patterns/habits of speech that are both skillful and unskillful.
# 6 #
Resolve.
Begin and end each day with the intention to be mindful and speak skillfully.
# 7 #
Avoid the crazy-makers.
This may not always be possible, but if it becomes apparent that certain people
tend to bring out the worst in me in terms of Right Speech, whether it's
gossiping or quarreling or just idly blowing wind, stay away.
You know what they say about the company you keep.
# 8 #
Actively treat interactions (in-person and digitally) as opportunities for
practice, opportunities for improvement, opportunities for learning.
The idea of "beginner's mind" comes to mind. Assume that understanding is
incomplete and that all interactions are places where, if observed clearly, the
truth has an opportunity to emerge.
# 9 #
Be aware of the body.
See how the urge to speak, to interrupt, to jump in manifests itself as bodily
sensations. Observe and learn the patterns and habits of my interactions.
# 10 #
Metta.
Do not allow any words to escape my lips before generating metta towards any
who might hear them.