The Power of Words
There is an infinite amount of power within a single sentence. Whether it's good or bad, you can lift someone's spirit or dash hope into pieces. Think about how many inspiring quotes, rousing speeches, and life-altering books you have read in your lifetime. I didn’t need to mention anyone in particular for someone to come to your mind…
I have been in business for myself for less than a year, and the amount of people who have praised my work and told me how good of a writer I am, has made my confidence soar and encouraged me to continue on. High praise can make you feel like you are on cloud nine and on the right track, but the inverse can have just as strong an effect.
When speaking to others in conversation, even the smallest phrase told in jest or comment said offhandedly may have detrimental effects on the person receiving it.
You’ve heard the children’s rhyme: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. It’s a wonderful thing to say publicly to hold together the facade of strength, but deep down we all know those words hurt worse than a punch to the gut.
Before I became serious about becoming a writer, I worked for a doctor who needed a few documents written. I volunteered immediately because I loved to write. When I was finished, and he looked it over for review, he made a comment that halted my whole writing career for nearly a decade. He said, “This is too much, no one will read your crap.”
In his defense, he did say he told his daughter the same thing whenever she wrote a school paper. It wasn’t said maliciously, and he wasn’t a mean guy by any means. but that phrase stuck with me so much that I stopped journaling, stopped writing stories, and threw away my dreams of becoming a published author.
Choose your words wisely, especially about yourself. My son was doing a math equation and messed up on adding, he realized his mistake almost instantly and said out loud “I’m an idiot!”. Thankfully, my mom spoke up and told him not to say things like that, even as a joke.
If I could leave you with one last thought;
Speak Life - Speak Hope - Speak Love