The Power of Words
By derek_a
@derek_a (10873)
May 23, 2007 10:30am CST
I feel we need to pay attention to the words we use in both thought and speech.
This can be demonstrated by observing our feelings to words. If we think of the word love, our minds will begin to bring in images of our loved ones and we will feel a sense of love. On the other hand if we think of the word enemy, our mind will bring to our awareness thoughts of hate, blame, anger and other negatives.
If we use the words of either in a conversation with someone, we will elicit the corresponding feelings in ourselves. Have you ever listened to someone you know who was quite happy until the subject of somebody that person disliked came into the conversation and watched their mood change?
There are other words that produce other negative or positive emotions. In my opinion, it is the negative words that need our attention when they come up, so that we can resolve our conflicts. Then one day, maybe these words will be just that - words with no hold over our emotions at all. Not that we should spend all our days focusing on all the negative words we can find.
Please feel free to share you thoughts, as we all look at things from a different perspective. :-)
5 people like this
7 responses
@nancyrowina (3850)
•
25 May 07
Words can be very powerful and cause wars and riots and change history. People don't realize the impact of what they say or don't say sometimes I think. If people were better with words there would be much less conflict in the world and the world would probably be a better place.
@derek_a (10873)
•
25 May 07
Definitely, I have been aware of this for a long time now, and have got into the habit of choosing my words carefully.
Sometimes, particularly on line it is difficult, so I tend to use smilies a lot, so that any recipient of a communication of mine will get that I am not intending any form of hostility or agression. In day-to-day conversations, I ensure that any misunderstanding are cleared up. I thank my work for that because clients need to leave my office feeling better than they did when they came in.. :-)
3 people like this
@Marchang (17)
• India
28 May 07
well! Derek..!
I will say that you are right about those words!
We really need to be carefull what to speak and should know whom we are speaking to because little words might cause a big trouble or little words of love can bring two different heart as one!
There is a saying here in my place " becareful of the tongue that/which have no bones in it because it might drag u somewhere you will suffer for the rest of you life". So we must becareful and know how to use our tongue which helps us to speak in a gud ways! make it straight and let it speak the words of love.. because i believe nothing last forever without the word Love!
3 people like this
@lifeluver (743)
• Canada
25 May 07
I grew up in an environment where communication was done by yelling and knowledge was gained through rumour and speculation. So, with that type of surroundings, I decided at a young age that I would learn to communicate better. Now, I am very careful with my words and try to come to my point quickly and precisely, that way there is little room for misunderstandings to occur. My memory of the effect of painful words is carried with me wherever I go and sometimes invades in my activities (work, friendships) so with this in mind of how words can effect one's feelings, I choose my words very, very carefully.
2 people like this
@lifeluver (743)
• Canada
26 May 07
That's exactly the way I feel about my past. I've always said that I wouldn't have the strength I have today without having gone through all those difficulties.
2 people like this
@derek_a (10873)
•
26 May 07
Thanks for posting. In a way your upbringing has brought you a greater awareness and understanding of communication. That is something that many people do not have. I believe that all negative experiences that I have had could indeed been seen as positive, because I wouldn't be the person I am today without them.. :-)
2 people like this
@lifeoriley (262)
• United States
23 May 07
I pay attention to negative words that people use in conversations. It is surprising how negative some people are. I pointed that out to one of my friends one day. I said to her do you realize how many times you said hate or l don't like this or l don't like that. She looked at me funny, and didn't say anything. I think there are some people that are naturally negative and always seem to use negative words in conversations.
3 people like this
@derek_a (10873)
•
25 May 07
Thanks for posting. Yes, that's very true how many people use negative words. I hear it out and about a lot. And people walk around our city with big scowls on their faces as if they would rather be somewhere else..
In my work I am also telling people that it's as if they are praying to be unhappy. For the most part, they listen, but they are consulting with me because they have problems. I notice that when talking to family and friends, they just carry on in the same way though! "I hope this/that won't happen" - I think they are inviting the very thing they don't want to happen into their lives! So I *won't* say, "I hope that you won't think this subject isn't too boring!" I will say, "I hope you find this subject interesting!".. LOL.
3 people like this
@piropos (312)
• Philippines
25 May 07
Our main form of communication is through words,whether spoken or written. We would find it very difficult indeed if we will communicate through signs and symbols. But even those signs and symbols themselves are representations of words that we already are using. The words themselves are representations of feelings, emotions, desires and everything about us humans that needs to be expressed.
In this light then, we do need to pay attention to every word we commit to writing or speech as each word can either hurt or bless, wound or heal, strike one down or help another get back on his feet.
Words are not mere inventions out of necessity. They evolved as humans evolved, for without words that formed in humans mouth, no communication is possible. We connect with other people by using words, expressed through speech or signs. When we connect, then we expand our community, we discover new worlds and go beyond the usual frontiers towards other universe.
@add_im (2712)
• Philippines
25 May 07
I believe that whatever things you know and that you wanting to say towards the person it should openly spoken or vocally towards the person involved whatever things it may be because first off, it's only for their own good and that it would benefit them in the long run. No matter how the person thinks about the words that came out from your mouth, but to your intention to fixed things out from their part in order to make things right for them, then I guess that would be alright because you are only doing your best for them and that's what matters most.
@derek_a (10873)
•
25 May 07
I do tend to say it the way it is, because truth always puts a person in a better position to deal with things. Some people I see though need to discover the truth for themselves and then I act as pointer and not just dump callous truth on them they could never handle.
I tend to say to my clients, "You are not here to like me, but to make a positive difference in your life, so whatever I say during your visits, is for
the purpose of improving the quality of your life". The words, I feel, need to be positive though - because if you use negative words, the mind will latch on to them..
For example, if I was to say, whatever you do don't think of an elephant - in your mind would be the idea or image of an elephant. So likewise, if I say, "Don't be negative", the word negative would be latched on to by the mind. So, "be positive" would be a more powerful phrase to use :-)
3 people like this
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
28 Jul 07
I make it a point to choose my words very carefully. I also make it a point to take people literally. Hey, if they don't say what they mean, or mean what they say, it's their problem, not mine. Subtlety is totally friggen lost on me, thus I treat everyone as if they heard things the way I heard them. If it comes out of my mouth, I mean it!! I chose my tones very carefully too.
1 person likes this
