Clean Speech Volume 2 - Week 2 - Power of Positive Words

Our opinions about ourselves and our world are extremely affected and shaped by the way other people speak to us. Think about children, whose attitudes and self identity develop from the way their parents speak to them. If they are nurtured and loved, they will thrive — adopting an optimistic confidence about themselves and their future.

Even as adults we love when someone gives us a heartfelt compliment. Our spirits are boosted by a smile. We are honored when asked for our opinion.

King Solomon wrote in Proverbs (12:18) “Speech can cut like a sword, but the words of the wise heal.”

?The tongue is a powerful double-edged sword.

?We can inflict serious emotional wounds on others, or we can use the sharp edge like a surgeon, to skillfully heal the wounds and restore a person’s self-esteem, confidence and well-being.

Steve wakes up one morning to a text message from his brother, thanking him for being so helpful with their elderly parents. In a cheerful mood, he compliments his wife Beth on the outfit she’s wearing. Feeling loved, Beth is more patient with their teenage daughter, Sarah, who she encourages to speak more confidently with the challenging girls in her carpool. Over dinner that night, they sit at the table and share small victories from their day, enjoying each other’s company a little longer than usual.

The awesome power contained in the Divine gift of speech is perhaps why there is so much mystical emphasis on speech in Judaism. The universe was created through speech, our humanity is defined by speech, our relationship with our Creator is built largely through speech.

As we refine our skills to replace negative words with positive, we imbue the world around us with positivity, one word at a time.

Try This at Home:?This week, make a point of saying something positive to someone, by giving a compliment or showing your respect