The
Power of Words
(Think
about what you're saying).
Have
you ever thought about the basic form of communication that
everyone uses: language? I mean, regardless of what country you
live in or what language you speak, there is a basic form of communication:
speech. Sometimes, I think, that we use speech, the basic form of
communicating our thoughts and opinions, without thinking. It seems
as though we don't really stop and consider the effect that our
words have one the ones hearing them. Or do words even have an effect
on lives?
I
believe they do. In fact, I believe that speech is really the most
powerful tool - and weapon - that humans have. Most of us would
probably agree but the sad thing, to me, is that, even though we
acknowledge speech is a powerful thing, we don't really take that
into consideration when speaking to others. Why is that? Do we speak
without thinking about the effects those words have on our loved
ones because the 13th amendment (a law in the USA), that there should
be freedom of speech, has been drilled into our heads and so we
feel safe to say whatever happens to come to mind? Or is it because
saying things, even things that are hurtful, helps us feel better...
releases our anxiety and our emotions?
Maybe
it's because writing is a way for me to express myself and sometimes,
it's the only way I can express myself, words have always had a
special meaning to me and I take them very seriously. A few of my
friends have often told me that I'm too sensitive, that I overreact
to things that are said to me, but... how can you overreact to something
that is said and that affects you in any way?
It's
my belief that words shape who we are and what we do with our
lives and I believe that if you are told something, anything, for
long enough a time, you actually begin to believe it and when you
believe something then your perception of life and of yourself are
altered.
If,
for example, you were driving and you passed a barn that had a sign
in front of it that said, "Most Photographed Barn in America," you
would more than likely believe it and even though it was just a
normal, empty barn, my wager is that you might even go home and
tell someone that you had seen the most photographed barn in America.
But wasn't the sign just words: words that you believed and that
altered your view of that barn. Likewise, if someone continually
tells you that you're horrible at everything you do and that you
can't do anything and that you aren't worth anything, the sad thing
is that eventually, you will begin to believe that and when you
do, your self-esteem, the way you view yourself, will change. If
you're told that you're horrible, even though it's not true, even
though you aren't horrible and the things you do aren't always wrong,
you'll begin to believe it, and when that happens your self-esteem
lowers. Did you know that suicide results from low self-esteem?
To
me, if suicide can be a result from things that we are told, from
words, that's a pretty strong signal that words are desperately
important. Why, then, do people choose to use words that hurt us?
It's true that I think that sometimes we need an "eye opening experience"
where we need to see things about ourselves that are hurting us,
even if hearing it may hurt us, but, most of the time negative things
which we are told are said out of revenge. Personally, I would hate
to see something bad happen to anyone and all because I became so
upset because of something that was said or done that I used words
to deliberately inflict pain.
We
are all human and the life that we have been given has many
trials in it for us already: there are many things in this world
that aren't going to change, regardless of how we may feel about
it, but the one thing that we can change for ourselves is the way
we use this tool: words that we have been given. Why, by the way,
were we given the tool of words? I believe that we were given words
so that we might understand one another and that we might be able
to better communicate: not so we could use it as a weapon against
those closest to us.
Many
times the words that we hear aren't even true: they're fabrications;
lies that were made up because of revenge or because of some other
reason, but the fact remains that there are some of us out there
who believe the lies which we are told and who are hurt by words
that aren't true or that may have even been said in jest. Because
of this: because we can never be sure who is more sensitive and
more likely to "overreact" to our words, maybe we would do well
to think about what we say more and be more careful about the words
we choose. After all, how many words are there in any given language?
Thousands, at least. Out of those thousands of words, couldn't we
choose less abrasive, less painful words than "hate," or swear words
spoken in anger?
We
have all been hurt by words: in fact, it's my guess that we have
been hurt by words more times than we have been hurt by other things,
and wounds made by words do not heal as fast as physical wounds
heal, and the consequences of painful words can be even more severe
than the consequences of physical wounds.
The
ultimate words, "I love you" were spoken by God and those beautiful,
most wonderful words of all, are continually whispered to you by
Him, if not by anyone else. Please, don't ever forget that and don't
forget that there are words that can and do hurt us and that if
we can learn how to replace those painful words with loving, kind
and honest words, then our world could be brighter and happier.
A peace could come inside of you that you deserve. I pray every
night for that peace to come to each of you and I thank each of
you for the words that you have given to people around you that
have helped build their esteem and confidence in themselves. Always
remember that God is smiling down on His children, whom He loves.
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