Chosing Our Words. a lesson in semantics

For Inner peace choose your words wisely

What we say and how we say has a social implication. We make friends and destroy relationships by saying certain words in our lives. However, beyond the inter-personal affect, words we utter also impact our own psyche. We do not realize this fact and as a consequence we use very emotionally charged words, when a lighter one will have been more appropriate. Try to see this happening in your daily life with in your family and children, or with friends and adversaries. It is very evident when we are discussing with someone different political or religious viewpoints and even discussing customs and traditions.

As an example, I suggest a common word “hate”, we used so indiscriminately and so often. It is so emotionally charged word, that it should be avoided as much as possible.

It will be wiser, to say “dislike” or even less charged word of the same origin, in a different way “do not like”. Now lets analyze ourselves. Every time we use the word “HATE”, a psychological change occurs in us. I am not talking how it affects the other party, I am saying by using the word we are also agitating ourselves. Any further, communication between the two parties will be little constructive because of the use of such sharp tool. If both or all the people in the audience agree with the statement that used the word “hate”, it still will be counter productive and give a bad taste in our inner self.

To maintain psychological balance, we must select words carefully. As a wise man has questioned, “What use the sword has, where a little knife is needed?” A sword used in a wrong can hurt others and the user also. Find the emotional value of the words, before using them, especially when in bad mood. Remember our parents and teachers used to say count to ten before you say. I am not trying to preach here. I have tried to follow this simple idea and have seen immense benefit to my inner self I hope you try too.