Three Words Nobody Says Anymore

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As you know, this is Easter weekend – and we're right in the middle of Passover. Two traditions that circle back, in their different ways, to liberation, renewal, and giving each other a little more room to breathe. And that last bit has me thinking about one of the simplest but most powerful gestures I know to change the whole dynamic between two people.

It costs nothing. It takes two seconds. And it quietly transforms the energy between you and another person.

So here it goes…

Sometimes you just wanna get it done. Right?

Maybe you’re under pressure, on a deadline. Maybe you’re mildly irritated that you have to deal with something at all. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s at home, at work, or on hold with customer service – you want it handled, and you want it handled now!

You could push. "I really hope we can move through this quickly, because I'm in a bit of a rush." Or worse: a pointed silence, visible impatience, eyes flicking to your watch. We've all been there.

But I want to suggest something different.

I want to suggest that you give people the benefit of the doubt… assume they’re already doing their best for you. In my experience, most people genuinely want to be helpful. Your coworker. Your partner. The person at the service desk who’s already pulling up your account.

So here’s where the three magic words come in.

When someone says, “I’ll take care of that for you right away,” instead of layering on the urgency, you say:

“Thanks. Take your time.”

Go ahead and sit with that for a moment: “Thanks. Take your time.”

How often do you actually hear those words? Take your time. Not often. Which is exactly why they land so differently. The gap between “could you hurry it up” and “take your time” isn’t just tonal. It’s a complete reset of the energetic field between two people.

Think about how it feels when someone says that to you. The pressure lifts. Something in your chest loosens. You suddenly have a little more room to do good work.

And here’s what I’ve noticed: the person you just said it to doesn’t work any slower. They just work with less friction, and so do you.

That’s the first gift. The second one is more personal: it makes you a kinder person. And when you offer that kind of spaciousness to someone else, it comes back to you. You feel it in your own body.

Kindness begets kindness. It always has.

So I’d like to invite you to try this as a daily practice. With the stranger at the coffee counter. With your partner when they’re in the middle of something. With yourself, even, when you feel the urge to rush through what you’re doing.

Three words. Take your time.

See what it opens up.

With Love,

Becca

P.S. Do you have a small phrase or habit that's shifted something big for you? I'd love to hear it in the comments.