Actions Speak Louder Than Words by Abbie Stauffer

Body movements and various gestures relay purposeful or mixed messages. I believe actions speak louder than words. Although many people may not be aware of it, they send and relay messages through body movements all the time. I have learned that actions in instructions, first impressions, and everyday living, send off immediate messages to surrounding people. Actions bring words to life, enabling others a better understanding.

Hands-on experiments often educate me far more accurately than lectures do. I am able to understand procedures far easier when teachers or bosses show what needs to be done, rather than say it. By watching a task be demonstrated, I fully understand how to complete it correctly, while having self confidence. Telling someone to perform something may sound slightly different than what it should look like. I feel I have the ability to complete something when someone shows me exactly what to do. Body movements through demonstrations are not the only time when actions speak louder than words.

The way in which individuals act when meeting someone for the first time reveals much about the person. First impressions are extremely important when interviewing for a job or just meeting someone new in general. I have learned that by how someone acts during a job interview reveals what type of personality they may have. For example, an employer may be interviewing someone by asking questions. During this time, the person being interviewed does not talk; however, they reveal their responses through their body language actions. Open hands, rather than folded ones, shows willingness to listen. Actions such as nodding of the head and eye contact, suggest the person on listening. I believe it is important to understand how body actions may be interpreted and why they speak louder than words. I believe our everyday actions can bring others a sense of meaning in their lives.

Sending a greeting card, shoveling a walkway, or opening a door, are examples of actions without words. Whenever someone does something generous toward me, I feel appreciated without even communicating with them. Whether it is an elderly neighbor or an elementary student, individuals constantly watch our everyday actions. We also have the ability to show negative actions without words. People can assume I am upset when I shrug my shoulders or make annoyed faces. Many other negative actions are performed by people of all types. Everyone knows what a hypocrite is. What is a hypocrite exactly? This type of person is simply someone who says something, but does the opposite. By doing the opposite, they are being hypocritical of what they said. In that case, actions always speak louder than words. Sometimes I have a hard time believing in something someone says unless they show me. By actually seeing them act on their words, I can determine what was said is in fact, true.

Actions bring words to life, enabling others a better understanding. Instructions, first impressions, and everyday movements, consume worldly actions. Everyday I perform something, spectacular or mediocre, revealing my motives. My name is Abbie Stauffer, and I believe actions speak louder than words.