Words. We never really examine their power. We clearly underestimate their profound and life shaping force. Words inform our mind, caress and comfort our feelings, excite and thrill our spirit, and warm and kindle the flame of our hearts. Or words slap our face, punch us in the stomach, rattle our nerves, kill our desire, destroy our self-confidence and break our hearts. Everyone reading this knows this to be true. Sure, this is metaphorical, but these metaphors capture our physical reactions to what is said, and that is the power of words.

Words. Words can emotionally move and affect us more powerfully than physical actions. Unfortunately, we have yet to recognize and legitimize this great power in the way we should, and we are left to deal with language in whatever way we have learned and adopted.

Words. We devalue words. We are irresponsible with them. We throw them around, many times as unseen weapons. You know the saying "Stick and stones can break your bones but words can never hurt you" is a total falsehood. Words can really hurt. Words can be very painful. Words can crush your soul.

Words. We refuse to believe that words have incredible power. Yet bullies escape punishment if they abuse verbally and do not leave physical bruises and broken bones to prove the presence of abuse. Intimate conversations are not as valued as sexual intimacy, and dramatic or traumatic moments often leave us speechless. Words shape us. Words determine how we feel. Words destroy or nurture our relationships. Don't you get it, words are superior ordinate.

Words. We fail to realize the most fundamental and critical elements of words. We fail to realize that as we speak, we create ourselves in our speaking. I want you to think about this - every time you speak you create who you are in the world. At the moment of speaking, you determine who you are being in the world. Your being, your essence, your personage is totally determined by the words you speak. If you speak possibility and vision, you become a leader. If you speak requests and promises, you become a manager. If you speak profitability, you become an owner. If you speak uncertainty, you become confused. If you speak declaratively you become strong.

Words. Every time you speak about your relationships, you create your relationships. When you use words about your relationship that are positive, empowering, adoring, then you see the other in that light. When you use words that devalue, doubt or fear, that's what you create in your relationship. Words are supreme.

Words. Every time you speak you create your future. Yes, that's right, every time you speak, you create your future in your speaking, whether it is about your business or your personal life. What kind of future are you speaking? One filled with possibility and intimacy, or one filled with misgivings and fear? One filled with success or one filled with failure?

by Elizabeth Landon