Have you ever taken a moment to marvel in awe over the incredible power of language? Many times, I have caught myself contemplating how and why a particular word came to be, and who was it that decided this word would be given that name? I found myself wondering about the birth of language, how it manifested, how it grew, and how it was first communicated. I would ponder for hours on end.
It is not unknown that the spoken word is our primary method of communication as human beings, but if you stop to consider how powerful words can be, you may find yourself enchanted or perhaps even frightened. After all, they are the root cause for every worldly event from great historical literature, to relationships, to history and war, to religious beliefs.
To think that the drivers of these weapons of mass destruction- The operators of love and empowerment are each and every one of us is a very grounding thought. It ignites within me a sense of duty and responsibility I don't always recognize.
The reality of language is that the vernacular you adapt has a significant impact on the manner in which you are perceived by others, but also on the way you affect those surrounding you. Whether they be your friends, your family, your colleagues, your staff or your clients.
We've all heard the saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.", but the truth of the matter is words can hurt. And they can hurt an awful lot.
They make relationships, break relationships, and are the building blocks of our daily lives.
There are not only the words we write in essays, or words we share with friends, but there are words we tell ourselves, and there are words we think deep within our sub conscience.
Once we become more aware of the words we chose from day to day, we can be more efficient in communicating the appropriate messages.
The power of words was first brought to my attention by a dear friend who was explaining to me the importance of positive Affirmations; She explained that the things we tell ourselves are directly connected with how we feel about ourselves, and thus how we feel overall. Sending ourselves positive messages resulted in positive progress, whereas sending ourselves negative messages formed negative beliefs, and cognitive distortions. And of course, it is important to empower ourselves with words of support and encouragement, as we need to be our biggest motivators. But what about those around us?
Think, for instance, about your greatest customer service experience. What made this experience so memorable? What made this experience stand out? One of my greatest memories in customer service happened at the tender age of 17. I was medically classified as being "morbidly obese", and walked into a gym for the very first time. Imagine the self-consciousness that accompanies walking into a gym as someone severely overweight, and asking for help. Sure, it takes a great deal of courage, but that certainly doesn't stop you from feeling vulnerable and anxious. The young woman who met with me, however, named Michelle, made the experience one that I will forever remember. She didn't make me feel as though I was a client and she was a sales associate; She spoke to me about my goals as though we were a team. "We" is a powerful word. A positive one. I felt, with absolute confidence, that Michelle was on my team, and was determined to help me find a solution to my goals, and that made the world of a difference.
When we think of the most influential people in our society; Teachers, doctors, psychologists, politicians, managers and the likes, we don't necessarily think of the words they chose. The way we feel in relation to these people has much to do with the manner in which they've chosen to speak with us. (Whether as an individual, or a society). It does not necessarily have everything to do with what they say, but more-so how they say it.
It is imperative that we, as a society that believes in de-stigmatization of mental illness, chose our words carefully- Especially when we are speaking with someone who is ill. Are our words intended to be encouraging? Are they intended to be inspirational? And are the words you are choosing helping to portray your true intentions?
"What can we do to help make this transition easier for you?" comes across as compassionate and supportive. "What do you need from us?" comes across as detached and possibly inconvenienced. I encourage you to infuse your vocabulary with an array of words that are supportive, positive, encouraging and compassionate, and truly think about how you wish for those words to come across to those around you.
Or, even better, keep a word journal! Find a word or two per day, write down their meaning, and give some thought as per how you would classify that word, and when you would use it in a sentence.
The power of language is ever-growing, and it is up to each and every one of us to utilize it to it's best and most efficient capacity.
Use your words for growth. Use your words for support. Use your words for compassion.
Alycia
