The Power of Words

Our languages are gifts.

Having the ability to speak what is important to us is precious. The ability to hear what is important to another is equally precious.

In the light, with the language of love, our words can inspire, reassure, lift, encourage, and heal. In darkness, and with remarkable subtlety words can diminish, subdue, demean, control, manipulate and break both heart and spirit.

Words are tools, at best, to communicate needs, to express love and the desire for clarification with respect, openness and compassion.

At worst, they are "buttons", verbal icons that represent a weakness, shame or stressor that when used cause great distress, pain and even violent reaction.

It's time that we invite others and allow ourselves to celebrate and respect our amazing biology without judgement and without shame.

Personally I'd like to see the word "sin" banished from our vocabulary in connection to organized religion, love and sex.

In The Four Agreements, author and shaman Don Miguel Ruiz shares the first aggreement:

  "Be Impeccable With Your Word"

"Impeccable" is defined in the following ways:

1. faultless; irreproachable, 2. exempt from the possibility of doing wrong 

 The Random House College Dictionary

2. free from fault or blame

Mirriam Webster

1. having no flaws; perfect

American Heritage Dictionary

Interestingly the word "sin" appeared in every source I explored (about 10). So I looked it up, wondering if there might also be a secular definition. Nope, it's all about trangressions against divine law and willful violation of a religious (or moral) principle. I find that troubling that nowhere is it applied to the treatment of other human beings.

Ruiz shares that "the word is a force; the power you have to express and communciate, to think and to thereby create events in your life.

All the magic you possess is in your word."

Let's try that one again!

"All the magic you possess is in your word."

Rinse and Repeat:

"All the magic you possess is in your word."

That's kinda big, don't you think?

Years ago, Adolfe Hitler destroyed millions of lives by the use of the word. He led his country to war and convinced his people to commit unspeakable acts of violence.

Some years later, Nelson Mandela led his country, divided by fear and skin color, onto the road towards peace, by the power of his word.

To hurt or to heal. To bend or strengthen. To love or to fear.

The choice belongs to each one of us, every single time we draw the breath to speak.

What will you say next?

How will you use your power?