Sshhh…..I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Well, it’s not really that little. In fact, it’s not really even much of a secret. Powerful and successful people all over the world have been wielding this weapon since the beginning of human language.
You have heard of the Secret?
No not THAT Secret. A different Secret.
It’s the Secret of The Power of the Word.
And it belongs to you. No one can take it away from you. You own it. It is your weapon. To do with as you please.
Think carefully for a moment. How will you wield that weapon today? Your weapon has a very unique quality about it that no other weapon in your arsenal has. It has the power to shapeshift. You can turn it into a sword to cut down your opponent, a dagger to slice him through the heart, a grenade to blow him to bits with a filthy litany of expletives for grievances committed on highways or elsewhere.
Your words can turn to cubes of ice that you can coldly toss over your shoulder as a parting shot or a zinger that flings with a snap of your wrist or through barely parted teeth.
OR…
Instead of using your weapon for the battlefield, you can use its power for the cause of good instead. You can harness its energy to become a warm blanket of comfort for someone all alone and scared. Or a sheild of encourangement and strength for someone facing adversity and challenge. Your words can become a library of wisdom to inform and educate, to uplift and inspire those searching to learn. You can create bridges with your words to bring others together and help communities grow. You can be a haven of peace, A light in the darkness, a beacon of hope.
You are holding a tremendous power. You have a tremendous choice of what you can choose to do with it today.
Just by paying attention to your thoughts.
Just by opening your mouth and being careful what kind of words you allow to come out.
Take a moment to think.
Will your words:
admonish, attack, bewilder, betray, criticize, confuse, condemn, demoralize, discourage, destroy, enrage, frighten, gossip, harm, intimidate, judge, label, manipulate, neglect, ostracize, prejudge, quarrel, rage, scandalize, scream, tear down, terrify, underestimate, victimize, weaken, wound, or yell?
OR…
Will your words:
adore, affirm, beautify, bless, caress, celebrate, delight, empower, encourage, fascinate, gratify, help, honor, inspire, kiss, love, motivate, nourish, pamper, play, redeem, respect, serve, share, support,thank, trust, understand, value, validate, or welcome?
It’s your choice. It’s your secret weapon. Your VERY POWERFUL WEAPON.
Choose wisely. It can change your life.
It can change the world. What will you do with your words today?
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Wendi
I think my words tend to sh*t-disturb.
(hee hee hee!) 🙂
Friar’s last blog post..Fishing while Striving for Excellence
Hmmm…Friar’s words= Play, laugh (need to add that) fun,fascinate, and OK, cause a wee bit of trouble..but just in a humorous fun loving way. We love you Friar. Don’t change a thing. 🙂
Hi Wendi – Great post – the positive words are far more effective aren’t they. I really do think the words we use affect the way we think and as you said, they also have the power to affect others too.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..A Kick Ass Way To Get Your Novel Published
Words are, in fact, among our most precious of resources. My words influence my life and and the lives of others. Creator gave
me this voice and the creative use of writing. One of the most remarkable things about words is their power to bless. Those spoken and unspoken, can encourage and life up others and myself. I can also choose negative words. Those that divide, judge unfairly, harm and weaken others and self.
The power of words is almost beyond human comprehension. Use them wisely. Use them well.
Ms. O
Hotel Agatha
The Between and Beyond
Ahhh words… so powerful yet so evil too. The phrase think before you speak comes to mind here as what you say without thinking can have extremely adverse affects on people. A little time to collect thoughts and convey them smartly will always save you from yourself.
Great post!
Jenny’s last blog post..Laughter is the Best Medicine
Jenny,
words aren’t evil, it’s what people do with them. You are right…taking the time to think before we think is key. Lucky and I were talking about this at dinner Sunday night, and talking about some of my finer moments in my less refined days…teehee…as you know…this is a lesson I speak from experience on!
Ms, O.
I like the way you put that. “Words are, in fact, among our most precious resources.”
I couldn’t agree more. 🙂
Hi Cath,
It’s great to see you again! Unfortunetly, I think the negative words are very effective too….they are effective in causing great harm to others and we don’t always think about the dire consequences of that for others and ourselves.
But the positive words do have a greater ability to improve the world very quickly, that’s for sure!
I love words and love them even more now that I’m teaching English. I get a real kick out of explaining the nuance of a word. For example you can use “fetch” in a question like “Could you fetch me a glass of wine?” but never in imperative without implying the person is a golden retriever “Fetch me a glass of wine. That’s a good boy. Fetch!”
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post..Trapped in the Day-to-Day: Urban Panther Interview Part 1
Wendi, what a wonderful post. I agree wholeheartedly.
Zinsser’s words ring through my mind: We get to keep intention.
No-one can take away the intention behind our words. We get to chose what we do with the awesome power we have at our disposal. And then we get to take responsibility for the choices we make.
I love this Wendi! There really is so much power in our words. And we can choose words which are negative, or words which are positive. So, for today – I choose to be positive with my words. I will really concentrate on making what I say be affirming and supportive. Do I always do this? No. And sometimes, I’m not even aware that my words may be having an impact on others. When I’m not consciously thinking of what I’m really saying, I run the danger of using words that are less than positive. And, I wonder now how often I do that in normal daily activities? Without thinking about it.
You’ve really hit upon how important our words are, and the power they carry. I don’t think about that enough. I leave here today, with my goal to be more aware of what I’m saying. Thank you, Wendi.
Lance’s last blog post..What We Learn From Winning
Very true – written and spoken, our words are powerful. I’m only human and admit to not always using my internal editor before speaking, but I’ve learned not to judge myself, to learn from that – why did I speak negatively? Most often it’s out of fear. When I’m scared I react less appropriately, I get defensive and on the attack. I’ve used words to “protect” me over the years and now I’ve realized they only caused more hurt. I could have just said “I’m scared.” I’ve come to notice myself a lot more through my words, and that has been a very interesting process.
Stacey Shipman’s last blog post..Finding Luxury in a Coffee Mug
What about words that make people laugh? Those are pretty powerful too. .
For 6 year old kids, it’s easy. Just mention anything related to bodily functions, and you get a major giggle fit.
Crude, but effective. 🙂
Friar’s last blog post..How to be a Tortured Intellectual
This reminds me of SARK’s latest post….how affirmative words can change the world (http://www.sarkjournal.com/2008/09/a-is-for-awesome.html).
I’m working on using more affirmative words in conversation. It’s amazing how often people are shocked when I use shining bright words.
Stacey / Create a Balance’s last blog post..Personal Development Mantra
Wendi: Great post. A wonderful reminder. I think we often forget or take for granted just how effective words are. How damaging they can be, but also how uplifting and life-altering.
I’m a person who often deliberates over the right word when I’m writing, but not enough when I’m speaking. I’m hoping that after your post now I can check what I’m about to say, become more conscious of what comes out of my mouth. As I am asking about the stuff I want to let go of in my life, or with anything else, I want to say, is this going to serve others or me? I want only what serves best and that’s beneficial, as goody-goody as that sounds! 🙂
Thanks!
steph’s last blog post..Making a List and Checking it Twice
PS. I still think I’ll swear sometimes, though.
steph’s last blog post..Making a List and Checking it Twice
I like this one. It’s like hitting the arrow on the mark. Exactly. That’s what I aim for!
Words are symbols that aim for larger meaning. That’s why spiritual teachers speak in metaphor and parables.
I had to reburn your feed in my feeder it seems to work now. I was stuck on your old blog.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..My Social Experiment: RSS Numbers
It’s true. Words are powerful. One of my biggest flaws is that I snap at people easily. I always repent and apologize, but the damage is already done. Thank you for this important reminder.
Vered – MomGrind’s last blog post..You Read Women’s Magazines? I’ll Give You Ten Reasons To Stop
Wendi,
So well-said. I got emotional reading your lists—amazing what reading all of one kind in a row, then all of the others, can make you think of. My favorite: Thank. Not used nearly enough, and massively powerful. And delight is just one of the best words there is.
I also like words that: teach, grow, and induce giggles.
Thank you, for this post.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Happy Small Business Friday: The Merriment Post
I love this post. I am going to print it out and hang it near my desk. I could see this going viral in email boxes all around the world. Thanks Wendi!
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Slam Poetry Links and Resources
Kelly,
Thanks,
You know, I actually got emotional writing the two lists. So much so that I had to take a break and walk away. The thing is, there were so many more that I didn’t even include for the sake of space. When you really stop and think how MANY things we have the power to affect…its MIND BOGGLING.
Melissa,
Wow,
That would be special, but it would really take some kind of crazy grass roots effort. My readership still hasn’t recovered from moving over to the new blog yet! I’m hoping everyone finds me again soon. The old subscriber links don’t work so if anyone used to be a subscriber at the old blog, they have to re-subscribe here so I only have about half of my old subscriber numbers back yet.
Vered,
I am half Irish and half Italian. Some times I think I would welcome a shoe in my mouth because it would give me time to think before I speak. Believe me when I tell you I write THIS one from LOTS of experience. The older I get the better I do but Its a challenge. What I write here I write for us all…me included!
Ellen,
Thank you for re-subscribing. THe old links from the old blog don’t work. IT seems that everyone needs to start frsh as a new subscriber. I appreciate the effort!
Steph,
What’s funny is that I am the opposite, when I am writing, I let the words pour out and don’t really search, rarely go back for re-writes and just write from the heart. When I am speaking, I moniter my mouth because it is likely to get me in trouble. I think that’s why I am a shy person. I so better at writing then talking. Humans drain me, I am introverted.
Stacey,
Sorry, I am not sure why you were lost in moderation, I just got you out of there,
I think that some people are surprised to hear people give them honest affermitive feedback and it’s really a shame. I think it’s great that you are being concious of it., it’s so necessary and vital in our world today. There is no end to the other kind. WHy are we so comfortable with negative feedback and not good? Strange. Good for you.
Stacey Shipman
I liked the point you brought up about how we use words to protct and defend ourselves. That could be an entire post in itself. The way fear causes us to use words in a way that deflects our authenticity, that disallows intimacy, love, honesty, kindness…..it could go on for a long time….
Good thoughts there.
Wendi you are helping us to wake up ….to the world we are creating through our words…the containers we use for intention. I think if we are continually asking ourselves…is this word comng out of my mouth right now, what I intend to create – for myself and/or others.
Thanks…great post.
Wendi —
I love your writing. Thanks gain for another post that hits me right where it was aimed. I have been dealing with some of my less-than-conscious comments lately that still linger from days of old. Your timely comments registered with me once more. I really appreciate what you do here. It works!
God bless you and all you do. — jb
Jeff Baker’s last blog post..Hello World! I’ve Got Something to Say!
Amen, sister. I’ve been wanting to write on this topic for a while, but I don’t really know how to express it, and I’m sure it’ll turn into like a three thousand word post.
Nothing’s more powerful than language. Right on, Wendi.
Writer Dad’s last blog post..Hello, This is Me
Well said! Words can break or inspire a person. So choosing the right words is very important. We should words in the highest way possible to touch and transform lives, to love and nurture and to comfort and heal.
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..My Abundance Mind Movie
Evelyn,
“We should words in the highest way possible to touch and transform lives, to love and nurture and to comfort and heal.”
I could not say this any better. Beautiful. It should be our mission.
Writer Dad,
It almost was a 3000 word post! LOL! Do you know how many words there are out there that we can choose to use that affect each other?
About have way through writing this, I started to brainstorm words, one would lead to another, like a flowchart or a word cloud. Then I picked up a thesaurus and really looked, REALLY read through. I was mesmerized. I scanned through and then slowed down and found myself reading word after word and the pain and awe would take turns pricking at my heart. We just go about our day flinging words around as if they don’t matter.
I started to cry. What if we were all walking around with a word gun. Would we shoot people with it?
Jeff, Thanks for coming, I’m glad you found the new blog!
You aren’t alone. We have all-every one of us blown people apart with word bombs. The point is to begin each day to be more aware of our power and to live in the moment with intention.
Hi Harmony,
Thank you for your kind words. We are all on this journey together. I am so glad you are a part of it.
I can’t do anything alone. The community is what builds it. The community is what spreads the message and helpd us to grow. For that I owe it all to you guys!
Wendi, re your subscribers, you could maybe try writing another post at the old blog and include the RSS feed address for this blog in the post. That way they just have to click to resubscribe. I guess most people will still have the old feed in their reader.
Joanna
I really enjoyed my first reading of your blog.