I spent today with my adopted Native American family. It is always so educational to spend time with other cultures to learn beliefs and language patterns from other cultural groups. That is also one of the reasons why I love to travel to Europe and other countries.

I have spent much time over the past several years on many Native American Tribal Reservations here in the USA. Since they were the original peoples here in the USA, I am always interested in their spiritual and cultural traditions. One thing that I find so amazing with the Navajo culture is that their language does not include absolute words or phrases. They do not speak in absolutes, like so many other cultures do.

For example, they do not have words like always or never in their vocabulary. You will not hear a Navajo person say phrases like, "I will always love you" or "I will never speak to you again." Their language patterns and belief system knows that there is no basis for strict absolute words such as those. Circumstances and nature may change in the future (and often do), which allow for absolutes to not be followed through with.

This leads me to the idea that if our cultures adopted some of those same language patterns, how much more peaceful, loving, and successful we might be in our businesses, personal, and professional lives. How much more beneficial would it be if in business we talked through (and resolved) a customer service issue instead of saying, "I am never going to do business with that company again?" I really think that more conflicts would be resolved; and we would experience better business and personal relationships if we adopted more positive and constructive communication methods like this one I learned today from the Navajo culture.

The next time you are speaking to someone, check your vocabulary for the use of absolutes and try to rephrase not using those words. Here is a list of a few absolutes: always, never, none, all, every, everyone, every time. See if your communication is more open, honest, and constructive if you eliminate absolutes.