Our words carry enormous weight. More than we sometimes think. They often affect people for decades, providing the courage to press on or to give up. The words of a dear one can be life-giving water – as refreshing as a bubbling brook. A careless word can shape or misshape someone’s life for years to come. Why do words elate and also hurt us besides influencing and having power over our lives? In every language words are the tools of communication. Devoid of meaning, words are just sounds. Communication is the life-line of society. Effective communication determines how everyone interacts with everyone else. Permutations and combinations of the 26 alphabets give rise to N number of words. Words which can comfort, words of wisdom, words which instill hope, words which can conjure relationships, words which have a lasting impact and words which can bond or break hearts.
WORD POWER: Words have power. Speak words that are kind, loving, caring, uplifting, encouraging, and life-giving. If only we realize the awesome power of our words, we will prefer silence to anything negative. Both in our thoughts and words lie our own strengths and weaknesses. Our joys and sorrow begin in our hearts. Language is called the garment of thought. He who wants to persuade, negotiate or conciliate should put ones trust, not in the right argument, but in the right words. Discern the value of a man’s word and you know him. Language organizes our inner life too. The world’s greatest leaders and progressive thinkers have always used the power of words to transform our emotions to help inspire others toward their vision and create actionable change. From Winston Churchill’s focus on the “finest hour” to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s depiction of a “dream.”
Words have the power to build people up or imprison them. The right word spoken at the right time can make all the difference in people’s lives. Choose your words carefully before you utter them. For by words alone is the life of mortals swayed. King Solomon said “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Every day, we are shaping reality for someone by the words that we use to converse with them. Most importantly the words you utter to yourself must be positive. Don’t mix your words with your mood. You may change your mood, but you cannot take your words back. You can change the course of your life by using the appropriate words. The tongue has no bones, but is strong enough to break a heart. Be careful what you say. You can say something hurtful in ten seconds, but ten years later, the wounds will still be fresh. Words have tremendous energy. They possess the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to harm, and to humiliate, to humble or to honour. Don’t ever disregard the power of words. Words move hearts and hearts move limbs. A broken bone can heal, but a wound suffered from a lethal word can fester eternally.
Good words are worth much, and yet cost so little! We can’t let ourselves forget how important words are. Whether it’s what we say or what we write. While words can be beautiful, we at times forget how dangerous they can also be. The words we write or speak to others can leave a huge impact and create a lasting memory. So it’s important to choose them wisely. Inappropriate words can make or sink your career. Words once uttered can only be forgiven but never forgotten.
Words are free. It’s how we use them that will cost us. One kind word can change someone’s entire day. Words carry immeasurable significance. Jesus healed and cast out demons with a word. Rulers have risen and fallen by their words. As leaders, it takes right discernment to know when to speak. Even in our technological age, politics, business, science, education and religious discourses and relationships all centre on words. Change your words and change your life. Words are potent. They have the ability to create a moment and the strength to destroy it. Since words carry amazing power, make sure that when you speak you uplift someone and not denigrate them. Throughout human history, our greatest leaders and thinkers have used the power of words to transform our societies and to shape the course of destiny, Words not only create emotions, they create actions and the ensuing results.
INFERENCE: Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humankind. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively by using words which promote wretchedness. When we speak we should speak with mindfulness, with a view to spread the message of peace and compassion. There are certain basic rules that should guide us all in our communication. Speak the truth, avoid exaggerations and be consistent in what you are saying. Refrain from equivocal words while addressing people. Let your words not be used to manipulate others, and most importantly do not use words to insult or belittle anyone. Words are a reflection of our thoughts which in turn are a reflection of who we are. Gary Chapman in his book, Love as a Way of Life uses the vivid metaphor for words as being either ‘bullets or seeds’. If we use our words as bullets with a feeling of superiority and condemnation, we are not going to be able to restore a relationship to love. If we use our words as seeds with a feeling of supportiveness and sincere good will, we can rebuild a relationship in positive and life-affirming ways. We must carefully orchestrate our speech if wish to achieve our goals and bring our dreams to fruition. It’s evident that words shape our entire existence. Now what about our own ability to use words internally to change our lives for the better – words that will ignite change, inspire action and improve our quality of life? Positive minds live positive lives.
(The writer is a social scientist and practicing criminal lawyer)
