Every word has its energy, its power. It has the ability to create, uplift and make a positive difference, but also the ability to hurt, supress and cause negative emotions. A single word can change a lot. Words are weapons and they should be used carefully.

What's a word?

A word is the basic meaningful unit of a language. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a word is “a single unit of language that means something, and can be spoken or written”.

Think of kind words or acts that encouraged you when you were young. The words spoken by someone who in turn left an indelible mark in your memory, the words that perhaps even changed the course of your life. This person, either a teacher, a coach, a family member or even a stranger, said the words that made you look at something in a different way simply by the way they spoke to you. And if they spoke positive words of affection and understanding, they triggered positive reactions in you.

Word is out

Now think of any unkind word or words that can’t be erased from your thoughts because they had such a strong impact and changed the way you perceive someone or something? Words that hurt you, belittled you, perhaps even frightened you… words that caused unsettling emotions to surface, that stopped you from realising your potential, that hindered you from pursuing your plans…

A 21^st century Jewish Rabbi said that “words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively use words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble.”

Power words

Power words are persuasive words that writers or speakers can use to trigger a psychological or emotional response. They are called “power words” because they are so convincing that people can’t resist being influenced by them, and because they trigger the desired emotion and action.

For example, power words in conversation are absolutely, definitely, remarkably, fascinating or compelling. Power words that can often be seen in headlines, because they are the first thing that readers see, include: jaw-dropping, exclusive, secrets, discover, breakthrough, shocking, etc.

People who deal with customers on a daily basis know how important it is to choose the right words or phrases in conversation to end up having either a satisfied customer or a disappointed one. Power words in such situations are words that convey empathy, understanding, and a desire to help. These include: reliable, understanding, patient, attentive, committed, genuine, trustworthy, respectful, efficient, etc.

Famous Last Words of a Fool

Whether we are writing or speaking, we should always pay attention to the negative or positive tone of words. Words with negative tone trigger a critical or pessimistic situation. These words convey emotions such as sadness, fear, frustration or disapproval.

The words we choose send unconscious messages to a listener’s or reader’s brains. Negative words produce negative responses that lead to uncomfortable situations. Here is a brief list of examples of words with negative tone and connotation: contrary, dreadful, damaging, arrogant, pushy, ominous, stupidity, stress, nervousness, violence, terror, etc.  

More than Words

Words essentially funnel our beliefs, inspire our behaviour and pave the way for our actions. Their power comes from our emotional response when we read, speak or hear words. Each word carries a vibration that can impact our senses.

Using the right words can raise our vibrational frequency, so must be on the lookout for positive energy words. By way of their energy and the vibration of language we can help generate positive thoughts in a manner that nurtures understanding, positive attitude and goodwill.

Using positive words can transform the impact of the way we express ourselves. Words have the ability to transmit our thoughts and opinions. Consider the tone and appeal of the following adjectives: attractive, magical, honest, kind-hearted, favourite, thankful, uplifting, outgoing, etc. Also consider some positive power nouns: inspiration, harmony, vision, ambition, grace, family, friendship, character, etc.

Word up

In the context of the article, it is worth noting the speech The Power of Words by Mohammed Qahtani, the 2015 world champion of public speaking. “A simple choice of ‘word’ can make a difference between someone accepting or denying your message. You can have a very beautiful thing to say, but say it in the wrong words and [sssshhh] it’s gone. […] Words have power, words are power, words could be your power. You can change a life, inspire your nation and make up this world a beautiful place.”

When we put words together and combine them into phrases, magic happens. With that magic, comes responsibility. Choose words wisely.

+ Keep up the good work.

+ I’ll support you either way.

+ Believe in yourself.

+ The sky is the limit.

+ Keep smiling, keep shining

- It’s too good to be true.

- Same shit, different day.

- I suck at life.

- It’s too late.

- Not my problem.

So, next time, instead of saying “It’s not my problem”, try saying something like “Let me think about it”, using a kind tone, of course. Saying “You’re totally wrong” to your work colleague doesn’t sound as good as a more diplomatic phrasing “Let’s review the details again to clarify any doubts”.

And, instead of succumbing to I Can’t, use something along the line of: hopefully, let me see, maybe, I will try, this might be an interesting challenge...