Actions do speak louder than words, however, they are a powerful source. They can do harm to people and relationships. So be careful what comes out of your mouth.
Words as Praise
Words can be used in a positive way. They can inspire, complement and show affection, to those we admire from afar, or to those closest to us. When someone says something to you in admiration, it can make your day or your life, go to the next level. How wonderful is that? Preachers, Rabbis, and other religious leaders, rely on them all the time. How they send their message, is the key. They can uplift spirits or downbeat the devils. Yes, words have a lot of influence on your life and mine. The thing about words and their power, is the context of their usage.
When we want to give someone a positive talk, we use words of optimism and confidence. We want that person to have the feeling of being able to tackle whatever it is in their life that needs to be dealt with. People don’t realize that when they open up their mouths, what comes out can be extremely beneficial to someone, or be malevolent in its meaning.
Words Can Be Poison
Yes, I used the word poison because when they are used in this context, they can do the most harm to people. Whether it be meant towards a certain group or an individual, once something is said, that’s it. Hate speech is a primary example of things said to a certain group of people, meant to do harm and intimidate. Particular groups come to mind, especially the white supremacists and certain nationalists organizations. Their rhetoric consists of words, primarily for those people they hate! The Constitution certainly gives them the right to spew hatred, and it’s been around for centuries. Their words have always left a fierce negative cast on society and how words can be used as a source of power plays among different ethnic groups. The best recourse in dealing with people who take this direction, is to just ignore them. They will always exist.
There is not one of us who hasn’t said something to someone who we wish we could have taken back. We have said negative words to family, friends and even on occasion strangers. Showing regret is the natural emotional response to having blurted out words we know we shouldn’t have said, but did. In the heat of the moment, the mind just goes into overdrive, and all we think about in moments of anger, is hurting someone. Many times it’s those closest to us. The premise here is because of the closeness, that the forgiveness factor will be quicker and more immediate. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. It should never be assumed that since you say something extremely hurtful to a loved one, that it will be forgiven. Words are a powerful source, no matter who the recipient of those words is.
Think Before Talking
Of course the common sense approach would be to put the brain in gear, before opening ones mouth. This is easier said than done. Anger usually precludes the things we say that hurt. Just as certain hand gestures show our displeasure, the timing and meaning of things we say can harm someone for even a lifetime. Just keep in mind, that once you say it, you can never take it back, ever! People forgive everyday, but do they forget, no! Remember that!