“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me” (unless I let them). Words can be very powerful, and at the same time, powerless. They have helped us build great empires, but how do words affect us, the human animal?
Words are pretty amazing. They can inspire, motivate, and make things happen. A simple word or a well-thought-out sentence can leave a big impact on people, communities, and the world.
Communication with others is very important, and words are at the center of how we share thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Whether we write or speak, words can shape what we believe and influence our choices. Just think about how historical speeches have inspired action, or how a kind word has given hope in tough times. Books, poems, and even social media posts all show how words can really affect us as individuals and as a society.
Words only have the power given to them by us. A word cannot physically hurt a person. Words are tools, and a person must internalize a word to feel hurt by it. We are all raised differently, and the environment we grow up in, the people we interact with, and all the situations we have been through impact how we react to certain words. Some people laugh when they hear an insult, while others get frustrated. We must be aware of the impact certain words have on us. It is our responsibility to be aware of what words trigger our emotions, analyze the situation, and ask ourselves why this is painful. Why am I being impacted by this person’s words? Take care not to shift the blame to another person; we are responsible for our actions, no one else.
