The Power of Words

I just spent a wonderful portion of my evening this Friday night watching The King's Speech. For those of you who haven't seen it the movie portrays the story of King George the VI and how he overcomes his speech impediment with the help of a very courageous teacher. If you haven't had the chance to see it I recommend that you take the time to do so!

Anyway onto better things. This movie really got me thinking about the power of words. Simple sounds strung together. It's amazing the power they hold. Moreover small little letters strung together and read by some nonexistent voice in our heads. Everything we know comes from words.

Even now as I write this these words hold power within me. This entire blog is a testament to the power words can hold. I use these words as a kind of therapist. A way to let my thoughts take a more concrete shape, a way to work though the issues milling about in my brain, a way to let out my frustrations in a more coherent rant form. Yet, someone who reads this my words may not hold much power, but for another they could hold a massive amount of power.

Over the course of history entire empires have been built on almost words alone. The Third Reich for example. Hitler had no background in leading anything really, let a lone a country or the world. The thing he could do though was speak. He could enthrall audiences with a single speech and entrance people into following him. It's words that provide the foundations for empires.

While words seem to have the power to build they also have the power to destroy beyond recognition. As humans we involve emotion in everything we do and words come along with those emotions. With a few short sentences we all have the power to rip someone to shreds and tear them down.

To me words hold a great amount of power. I have quotes all over my room, floating around in my head, saved on my phone. Each of them just a tidbit of words that have the power to motivate me, cheer me up, and provide hope.

I've also found that one of my talents is using my words to heal, encourage, and support. While I may not have myself completely put together I have the wonderful ability to set it all aside and focus on another for a period of time that's just long enough to have them leaving with a smile on their face. I have the ability to command the attention of a room, as I was "blessed" with a strong diaphragm and loud voice, but it's the words that come out that contain the meaning.

So I implore you. Before you let that next sentence out, or before you send that next text message, or update your status, stop and think for a moment of the power behind what you are about to put out to the world. Is it going to provide the foundation for good or will it just destroy?