Words can be the most powerful or harmful weapon we have in our arsenal for life. What we say more often than not affects the people around us more than what we do or do not do. Whether you’re saying a genuine “I’m sorry” or whether you’re saying negative things to or about someone.
You know the old saying, “if you have nothing good to say, don’t say it at all.” This doesn’t mean keeping pent up anger and gossiping about someone to others. This means not saying it at all. If you have a problem with someone it’s best to sit down and openly and calmly discussing the issue. It also means being open to that conversation and taking responsibility for what you have done. Now sometimes this can be difficult and sometimes one or more people may not be receptive to this idea but at least if you try then you’ve done your best and no one else needs to be dragged into the situation. Because the words you use to talk about someone will ultimately come back to haunt you and then people are more hurt than they were before.
It works in reverse too. If someone has done something great then the words you use to congratulate them make a huge difference. It’s easy as saying “you know what, you’ve done something really cool, good work.” Or telling someone how you feel about them, as long as it’s genuine can really uplift someone “you’re an amazing person and I care about you.” Once you start using your words in that respect as a weapon to get your own way is where the problem starts. We all have a story about someone who has built us up using their words only to betray us with their actions or words afterwards.
Words can affect relationships, friendships, working relationships and can even affect the outcome of wars and the careers of politicians. Take for example the previous Australian Prime Minister who was caught on record calling the Chinese Government “rat f*^%ers.” Or the New Zealand Prime Minister referring to a certain Maori group as cannibals, which garnered him a lot of criticism and will most likely be stuck in people’s minds come the next election. The Rwandan genocide in 1994 was stimulated by words broadcasted on radio or the Ugandan President who won a lot of hearts by effectively consoling with the people after the July 11, 2010 bomb blasts in Kampala. Imagine if these words had not been spoken? The outcomes of many lives might be dramatically different. So you can see just how powerful words can be.
Most people probably don’t realise the impact our everyday words have. There’s a proverb in the bible “she opens her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue the law of kindness lies.” There is a lot of beauty and truth in this for it is when we open our mouths without thinking that we more often than not say stupid things. Now I am not saying I am above all this, nor am I preaching from any high horse. Just like all of you I am guilty of the same thing. The difference perhaps is now I am aware of this and will consciously put into affect a new law. A law governing MY mouth just as I hope you will consider after reading this.
No comments:
Post a Comment