THE
POWER OF WORDS
Mario
D’Couto
Human beings are perhaps the most complicating beings on
this planet. While there is no doubt that there are other forms of life, given
our complex nature, free will and our ability to communicate, these are things
that have taken the human race far and beyond.
Of these three aspects, the ability to communicate is
what is most important as it encapsulates the other two. Knowing what to say,
when to say and how to say, makes a difference both for you as well as for the
others around you. There is a quotation that I came across sometime back which
goes thus, “Taste your words before you spit them out”. Knowing how to act
in a particular situation comes with prudence. Frankly, I think that had it not
been for this unique ability, humans would not have progressed so far.
Animals do communicate but it is not as sophisticated as
ours. When we communicate, we are not just speaking words but we are communicating
our thoughts, feelings and emotions. Words is just a medium. Having said that,
in as much as communication is seen to be an exchange of ideas between two or
more people, the main thing that I wish to bring about through this article is
the communication with one’s self.
There is more to benefit than to lose from introspection.
It helps us get a better world view of the things around us and where we stand.
By doing so, this serves as the launching pad as to where we want to go.
The human mind is amazing. It has tremendous power. Unfortunately,
not many people realize it. When words and phrases are spoken, we create mental
images in our minds. So, in order to unleash the power of the human mind, try
out the following exercise. Get a paper and try writing your strengths and
weaknesses. Once you have done that, do the following,
1.
Determine your five chief assets. Invite some
objective friend to help – possibly, your spouse, your superior, a professor –
some intelligent person who will give you an honest opinion. Examples of assets
include education, experience, technical skills, appearance, well – adjusted
home life, attitudes, personality, initiative and other such qualities.
2.
Next, under each asset, write the names of
three person you know who have achieved large success but who do not have this
asset to as great a degree as you.
When you’ve completed this exercise, you will find you
outrank many successful people on at least one asset. By doing this, there is
only one conclusion you can honestly reach: you’re bigger than you think. So, fit
your thinking to your true size. Think as big as you really are! Never, never,
never sell yourself short!
The power of the human mind is a very subtle phenomenon
but if it can be unleashed and tapped, it would be a “WOW” experience. The reason
for its subtlety is because too often we are bombarded with a lot of knowledge
on positive thinking so much that we tend to take the power of the human mind for
granted.
To elaborate on the power and the effects of what words
have, consider the following example. Suppose you tell a group of people, “I’m sorry to report that we have failed,”
what do these people see? They see defeat and all the disappointment and grief
the word ‘FAILED’ conveys. If you were to change the approach and say, “Here’s a new approach which I think will
work,” they would feel encouraged and ready to try again.
Consider another example. Suppose you say, “We face a problem,” you have created a
picture in the minds of others of something difficult, unpleasant to solve. Instead
say, “We face a challenge” and you
create a picture of fun, sport or something pleasant to do. Or tell a group, “We incurred a big expense” and people
see money spent that will never return. Instead say, “We made a big investment” and people see a picture of something
which will return profits later on, a very pleasant sight.
The point that I am trying to drive at is big thinkers
are specialists in creating positive, forward – looking, optimistic pictures
in their own minds and in the minds of others. To think big, we must use words
and phrases which produce big, positive mental images.
Make a list of words that you tend to use on a regular
basis. The more aware you become of the quality of your language, the more choice
you will give yourself. And writing things down dramatically raises your self –
awareness. Then, once you have identified your most commonly used, words, do
another list. Articulate a series of spectacularly positive words that will
serve you – words that you can imagine a superstar in your field using. Bring them
into your daily vocabulary. You will discover that speaking those words will
make you feel better. More powerful. More passionate. And when you feel great
feelings guess what? You’ll do great things.
To conclude, the words you use determine the way you feel.
The language you choose shapes the way you perceive reality. Your vocabulary
drives meaning in your life. The words you use influence the life you live. So,
select them wisely.