By Your Words…

“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Proverbs 16:24)

As children, many of us repeated the adage “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Although I understand that the sentiment is intended to teach children not to be overly sensitive to the taunts of schoolyard bullies, it couldn’t be further from the truth! Careless or malicious words can and do hurt. Likewise, loving, encouraging words can and do heal.

By our words, we can tear ourselves and one another down, or we can build ourselves and one another up.  The words that we think, speak, and hear are embedded in our subconscious minds and eventually take tangible form in our lives. They affect our feelings, attitudes, relationships, and even the health of our physical bodies. Think for a moment about your own response to harsh criticism. Your muscles probably tense up, your pulse rate may increase, and you may experience a rush of blood to your head. If you accept the criticism as true, it may compromise your self-esteem and subsequently the way you walk, talk, and behave. Now think about your response to praise. It’s all positive, right? You may relax, smile, and carry yourself a little more confidently. You probably experience sincere gratitude for the boost. In both cases, the feeling lingers long after the words have faded away.

Our words have the power to curse and the power to bless. If you want to be a channel for good in the world, begin by speaking words of life and affirmation to and about everything in your life, including yourself. Rather than fixating on what is wrong, make it your business to acknowledge what is right. Let your words be freely given gifts, and pay close attention to their effects.

In Peace and Love,

Tawnicia

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

In the Second Testament of the Bible, the Gospel of Matthew attributes this sentiment to Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 12: 34, 36-38). As a bibliophile, writer, and self-proclaimed wordsmith, I knew when I decided to make the leap into the blogosphere that I would take my theme from this passage of scripture. Why? The answer is quite simple. Because I believe that collective humanity has lost sight of the function of our words.

The evidence to support this theory is all around us. How often do we speak without thinking, say things we don’t mean, talk harshly to and about ourselves and other people, and make crude remarks under the guise of humor? If we really understood that our words reflect our innermost beliefs, wield naming power, and are authorized to shape our experiences, we would be much more selective about how and when we use them.

If we only knew that the words we hear permeate our subconscious minds and affect our self-image, world view, and expectations of life, we would be more discriminating about the conversations and “entertainment” to which we expose ourselves and our families. And if we really believed that we are held accountable for every word we utter, we’d probably have a lot less to say.

So in this blog, my little corner of the universe, my quest is to bring to our awareness some of the careless, destructive ways in which humanity misuses the precious gift of language as well as to celebrate the beautiful, inspiring ways that enlightened members of our global community apply it. My hope is that maybe–just maybe–my words will contribute to the collective shift in consciousness that is necessary if we are to change our world.

In Peace and Love,

Tawnicia