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"It is important to think before you speak," stresses Greg Stephens, communication consultant, executive coach, founder of Alignment Resources, and author of Build New Bridges: The Art of Restoring Impossible Relationships.

"In emotional moments, your first response is your worst response. Once you are emotional, logic goes out the window because the amygdala (the brain’s emotional center) is running the show, not our neocortex, where all of our problem-solving and creative thinking lives," he explains.

According to Calm, the number one mental health app, thinking before speaking is about pausing to consider the intention behind your words or letting the heightened emotions settle so people don't speak in a way they usually don't.

Mindfulness and emotional intelligence play a big part in this, as their presence helps one to be more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. This further helps to pay attention to one's words and how they deliver them.

"Thinking before you speak is a form of mindful communication, using emotional intelligence to consider how your words might affect the listener's feelings and adjust your message accordingly," the Calm website writes.

There are ample benefits to thinking before speaking, such as improved relationships and positive reputations. Those people who choose respectful and thoughtful communication can strengthen their relationships and are often seen as more reliable and trustworthy.

Mindful communication also results in fewer misunderstandings, reduces conflicts, reduces anxiety, and sets a positive example.

Plus, everyone appreciates a good listener, says strategic communications consultant Jamie Levin. "Thinking requires listening and oftentimes people make the mistake of speaking without listening and either completely miss the target or miss important information. Everyone appreciates a good listener! We often learn more from listening than anything else. It’s a sign of respect."

On the other hand, those who fail to watch their words often suffer negative consequences.

"You become your most significant barrier in the conversation," says Stephens. "It’s your blind spot. The moment you become emotional, your behavior changes, but you don’t see it. Everyone else does, putting you at a significant disadvantage, often exacerbating and creating longer-term, more severe problems than the one you are currently facing."

And that's far from being all.

"Your message doesn’t land the way you want it to, because in this moment, it’s not 'what' you say, but 'how' you say it," Stephens adds.

"When you are emotionally hijacked, you are communicating much more than your words, and again, you are blind to the message you are actually delivering."

The last consequence that Stephens mentions is that our reactions can put the other person in control.

"In this moment, the conversation most likely needs your best response, but we typically deliver our message poorly, missing key points, and possibly creating longer-term problems."

Levin adds a few more downsides to talking without thinking:

1. Missing the point.
2. Misunderstanding the deliverable.
3. Communicating with the wrong audience.
4. Making it seem as though you weren’t listening.

To avoid the negative impact of our words, Stephens advises trying the following:

"You can 'hack' your brain the moment you notice you become emotional. How? Ask yourself questions. Asking questions begins to activate the higher reasoning centers (the neocortex) of our brain. Asking questions like, 'What do I want long term?' 'What am I missing?' and 'What opportunity is behind the problem?' Questions like these turn your brain back on and allow you to get back to your best behavior, rather than having your 'buttons pushed.'"

"The biggest barrier you face is the self-awareness required to notice that you have become emotional in the first place. The moment our chemical reaction starts, we focus outward, preparing for the threat. Looking inward and noticing that you are in reaction mode takes time and practice to develop. Once you do, you are on the way to creating new neural pathways that can reduce the time it takes to catch yourself quicker during the next emotional interaction," he further explains.

"Remember, emotions are chemical, and thoughts are electrical. You can quickly turn your brain back on, but it takes time for the chemical wash of adrenaline to exit your system. It will reset, and the process will take time."

Meanwhile, Levin suggests, "Slow down, take a minute to digest all the information that was relayed and thoughtfully think through your response before simply raising your hand to be the first to respond. We’re taught from a young age to raise our hand in school to speak up.

After all, the people who listen tend to have a better idea of what’s going on; they know how to approach others because they tend to know more about people and their personalities as a result of listening and their message delivery is often more comprehensive because they have a better understanding of what’s truly being asked of them or what’s being asked of their team."