be careful about the words you use with people

“It is so easy to say something at the expense of another for the purpose of enhancing our own image. But such remarks – irresistible as they may be – serve only to fatten our egos and agitate others. We should be so fearful of hurting people that even if a clever remark is rushing off our tongue, we can barricade the gate. We should be able to swallow our cleverness rather than hurt someone. Better to say something banal but harmless than to be clever at someone else’s expense.”

— Eknath Easwaran

We must never underestimate the power of words – the words that come from our mouths can dramatically impact people’s lives. That’s why it’s best to develop awareness, kindness and empathy as we interact with others in our daily lives. 

Sigmund Freud once said, “By words, one person can make another blissfully happy or drive him to despair.” Your words can either make or break someone’s life.  A few words of encouragement and appreciation can boost someone’s confidence and self-esteem and give them the push that they need to take their lives to the next level. And a few words of reckless criticism and contempt can dampen someone’s resolve and sometimes even push them down a dark abyss. If we’re not careful, a word can cut way deeper than any blade in the world.

Therefore, it’s wise to pay attention to the words that we speak, more so in difficult times when the tides are against us and we’re more prone to lash out at others. 

The bottom line is that we must all be more mindful and aware of the words we use on other people. As Zig Ziglar put it, “You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can impact a life forever.”