POWER OF WORDS

This post is also available in: Hindi Marathi

 ‘Give me blood and I will give you freedom’ Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose called out to his countrymen.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but rising every time you fall.” were Nelson Mandela’s inspiring words.

History is replete with examples that showcase the magical power of words—be they blessings, curses or vows. Have you experienced the power of words?

People root for their favourite horse at the races. Who does the winning though? It is the jockey. Similarly, the positive or kind words residing on your tongue are the winners.

Words have their origin in our heart, but they need to cross the filters of our judging and comparing mind before reaching the tongue. The mind loves comparing, judging, and labelling. Hence, it sullies the purity of our hearty words and gives them a negative connotation.

Handling negativity

How to handle negative comments and remarks made by others? When you present a gift to someone, the person has to first accept it to receive it. Similarly, you too need to first accept others’ negative comments to be affected by them. Stop thinking about others’ sarcastic or snide comments because words lose their power when you stop reacting to them.

The mind is susceptible to fear. The moment someone makes a negative remark like, “You will never make it…This is not your thing…You are no good,” you get affected and begin to wilt with fear. You may start thinking whether it is true and perhaps spend your whole lifetime with this fear.

“What’s that lump on your neck? It could be a symptom of cancer…” a friend cautioned Sheena. The words gripped her imagination and soon she was into depression visualizing herself being down with cancer. The friend never thought that her few words could impact Sheena’s life so greatly.

Today, the whole world is gripped by the fear of the pandemic. A person ailing from a common cold isn’t troubled by the discomfort of the sickness as much as he is disturbed by the thought of people’s barbs and alienation.

Avoid misusing word power when you are not mindful. Lies uttered unconsciously or in ignorance can boomerang with multiplied potency. This is very clear from epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana where we see the harmful effects of deceit and treachery between characters like Kakeyi and Manthara, or Duryodhana and Shakuni.

Using the Right words

Negative words lead to negative consequences. Similarly positive words lead to a simple, beautiful and stable life. Jijabai—the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha warrior—was very careful with her words during his upbringing. She never used words with negative connotations like, “You cannot do this… you are weak… this is not possible for you.” As a result, he went on to become the fearless ruler of the Maratha empire.

As a parent, it is very important to choose the right words as they act as a gateway to help build the foundation of a child.  They lead to development of a noble and strong character. Spend your words the way you would spend your money – sparingly.

Make a resolve: My words will hold goodwill and positive faith for others. They will act like seeds that reaps a good harvest. With this, you can be instrumental to fill others’ lives with happiness and positive thoughts. And what you give, comes back to you manifold. So obviously you are going to be blessed with joy and abundance.

Every night, you can keep an account of your words before you get to sleep. How many good, positive, and inspirational, or disparaging, spiteful, and bitter words were used by you today? After you spend your money, you check whether it was worthwhile. In the same manner, you can check if your words have help raised the other person’s level of consciousness. This will raise your awareness towards using the right words and you will feel their power.

Overriding criticism and taste

Avoid gossip and criticism. When you criticize others, you want to prove you are superior. A person who is really superior in every sense would never indulge in gossip and criticism, would forgive others and pray for their wellbeing.

When he listens to negative comments about himself or is disturbed by an event, he prays, “Let my words be a vehicle for the wellbeing of all and used for sending blessings… I am not going to be affected by anyone’s negative words. My life is filled with benevolent people.”

‘Word power’ has one more important aspect that needs to be understood: Use your tongue to speak sweetly to others, but at the same time, your tongue should be indifferent to the taste of the food it consumes. Avoid being choosy about your food choices.

Contemplate on your words 

“Stick out your tongue,” the doctor instructs when you go for an examination. Similarly, when you seek guidance from a counsellor or spiritual guide, he would say, “Spew out the words that you use daily.” A doctor examines your tongue, whereas the Guru examines your words!

Do not practice deceit by hiding, reducing or magnifying your statements while stating your problems as this will hamper your own spiritual progress. With honesty, you receive guidance, “You are troubled by your own words and are blaming others. People may think or speak negatively about you. But what about your own self-talk? Keep a check on that.” Such invaluable guidance from the Guru can help change your perspective.

Words are a medium to shift from the form to the formless, from qualities to beyond. During olden times, chanting was used as a means to stay connected to the divine.

In today’s times you are introduced to words like – Love, joy and peace. These words remind you of the Divine and its expression. As you chant these words, you get connected to the Divine and they seep into your life. You begin your journey from the form to the formless, from words to the wordless truth, and from darkness to light.