The Power of Words

The Power of Words

Dr.K.Balasubramanian (Balasandilyan), CEO www.visionunlimited.in , Thought Leader and Transformation Coach.

Words manipulate people into becoming tools others can use.

Invisible, forced with purpose to change another's thoughts, beliefs and actions, the words virtually force one to agree with the manipulator's point of view, give them what they want.  Their words are so reasonable, so logical, and so believable that one's response is almost programmed.

The words are hooks. Their enormous power lies in what the words MEAN to the person who hears them. They trigger concepts, ideas, memories, situations, circumstances, actions, thoughts and feelings from one's subconscious mind into corresponding emotional responses toward the subject at hand. Consequently, the decisions based on them are NOT based on truth, common sense, logic, legality, one's best interests or right and wrong.

What comes out of the mouth starts with what goes into the heart.  And in Proverbs we learn that we are to be putting God's Word into our hearts.  And we do that by paying attention to it, listening (with our ears and our heart) to His sayings, keeping His Words before our eyes and getting them into our heart.  And once they are in our heart, we are to guard our heart with all diligence, for out of our heart comes the issues of life in the form of our words.  And our words are powerful!

You can envision this angry person carefully sharpening what they are going to say to you, like a warrior sharpens the head of an arrow.   Then at your most vulnerable moment they take aim and fire this carefully fashioned weapon right at your heart.  If your heart isn't guarded when they attack, those words can penetrate and deposit their poison, sometimes wounding you for years.  Why?  Because words are powerful!

On the other hand, our words can bring life to a situation.  A word of encouragement spoken at just the right time to someone who is down or discouraged can minister life to that person.  Maybe you have been the person who just felt like you were in a pit of despair and felt like giving up; when someone came to you or called you and told you they love you or appreciate you, or just thanked you for what you are doing.  If you were that downhearted person, then you know that those kind words were like a hand extended, pulling you up out of a pit and back onto the path God ordained for your life. 

 Those words injected life into your situation and gave you the strength to keep moving forward.  Why?  Because our words are powerful!

Why are words so powerful?  Words have found a way to change the world, and yet, they are of no value in any scientific realm. We place much importance on knowledge and with how the way things work, yet words have been the only effective means of power. If we think about it - communication has been the central component to our not destroying the world as of yet.

What would happen if the world stopped speaking - stopped communicating all together

Words represent History…! Also represents the thoughts of the mind…!

Words can bring agony as well happiness. Some words have deep meaning beyond comprehension. Some words can be hurting and some are healing. Some can be careless and some can be caring. Words are the vehicle which carries messages to impress or to express and also to create rapport/connect with people. 

Words of people reflect their attitude. A few words can win and a few can kill or make you lose.

Words can be good, bad, new, old, native, strange, rhyming, energetic and negative as well.

Words such as Task, Risk, Target, Act, Pressure, Delivery, Plan, Comment, Criticize, Fat, Error, Blood, Accident, Worry, Tension, Stress, and Depression – can be very self-destructive whereas, Money, Abundance, Power, Friend, Reward, Prosperity, Happy, Relationship, Natural, Health, Great, Excellent, Care – can bring vigour and enthusiasm.

Words like Love, Please, Thank you, Love you, Sorry and Prayer may bring magical results.

There are 18 powerful words for persuasion: Naturally, easily, unlimited, aware, realize, experience, before, during, after, among, expand, beyond, and, as, causes, because, now, stop.

Most persuasive words as per research by Yale University: Discovery, Easy, Free, Guarantee, Interest, Love, Money, Profit, Results, Save, You.

There are also few words which are very optimistic and high-energy oriented: Achieve, Baby, Beautiful, Believe, Choose, Choice, Dream, Easy, Energy, Enthusiasm, Family, Father, Feel-Free, Funny, Future, God, Happy, Harmony, Heart, and Humour.

There are few words which are of low-energy oriented: Failure, Fear, Forget, Guilt, Hard, hate, Idiot, Ill, Lazy, Lose, Loser, Mean, Sue, Weak, Nasty, Old, Poor, and Problem

Words to be avoided:  But (change it to) ‘and’, Try (presupposes failure), If (presupposes that you may not). Might (it does nothing definite), would have (draws attention), Should have (guilt), Could have (tries to take credit), Can’t /don’t (what we don’t want)

Powerful or confidence maker words:  Positively – I am going to improve positively, Absolutely – I am absolutely confident, Guaranteed – I am guaranteed to improve, Certainly – certainly no one can stand in front of me as am the best, Obviously – obviously I have a great game, Definitely – definitely I can reach my goal, Surely – surely I am born to win

We need to switch certain words in our daily life for better results, happiness, harmony and peace:  That’s not bad -becomes “that’s quite good”,  No problem – becomes – “you are very welcome”, That’s bad – becomes – that’s not good,  Don’t worry – becomes- you’ll be fine,  It’s too hard – becomes – it’s not easy,  I’m sick – becomes- I don’t feel well,  I forgot – becomes – I didn’t remember,  Don’t cry – becomes – that’s all right, Diet becomes ‘eating plan’, Fat becomes ‘ not slim’, Junk food becomes ‘empty filler food’, I shouldn’t eat all of this becomes ‘I will eat just half of this”, I was bad today becomes ‘I didn’t do very well today’, I’m feeling down becomes ‘I am clearing some emotions right now’

For better results in personal and professional life, we need to change the way we communicate:  Don’t talk to me like this – I want you to be kind, I don’t want to be sick – I want to be healthy, I don’t want to fail – I want to succeed, I don’t want to lose – I want to win, I don’t want to be poor – I want to be rich, I don’t want to delay – I want to finish on time, I don’t like tension – I want to be peaceful, I don’t want to delay – I want to be on time, I don’t want to argue – I want to agree

A careless word can cause a conflict/quarrel, A word without compassion can spoil a life, A word of hatred gets hard into the mind, An unkind word can kill a person, A caring word can bring peace and harmony, A happy word can enthuse others, A timely touching/caring word lessens the worry and stress, A word with love and kindness will remove worries and bring bliss in heart.

Finally, let us understand that Words can be powerful in multiple aspects. Sometimes words can do more harm than actual weapons, or when used in music they can deliver an emotional response to the listener. We can interpret words and language very deeply which may be why they can be so powerful. Therefore let us be very selective as a successful communicator while choosing a WORD.

You are judged by the words you use – could be true…!