The Power of Words

How does one start a blog?

Should my first entry be a deep philosophical questions . . . or something lighter and of general interest about my life?

How important is what I have to say here anyway? I am just another blogger, writer, person-at-a-keyboard among millions of others tapping away in much the same way. And yet, I am struck by the power that others’ writing has had for me . . . of the moments in which a message has become the right message because it came at the right time, in the right words and from the right source (at that moment) to get through . . . to land and to leave an imprint.

So . . . what impact will my words have? What responsibility do I have for the trail that I leave here? Although the saying, “Actions speak louder than words” is commonly accepted wisdom, I have learned that words ARE actions – powerful ones. “Words are not innocent. The language we use shapes the realities we live in and the realities we create” (Kotzé and Roux (2002).

As I think about the language that I use, I know that the words I choose are both a direct reflection, and the creators, of how I feel about myself and the world in the moment I am choosing them. When I use language that reflects personal responsibility, hope and spiritual connection, I feel grounded, connected and positive. When I use language that is cynical, angry and hopeless . . . I generate and grow those feelings within me and manifest them into my environment. As a coach, consultant and educator, I recognize that my words and actions are powerful, and can have significant impact, whether I intend them to or not.

So what do I do with that responsibility?

Ghandi charges us to “Be the change you want to see in the world.” What is the change I want to see in the world?

I want to see a world that is inspired. I understand that this means I need to be an inspiration. I want to live in a world of authenticity and deep compassion. I have no choice, then, but to be authentic and live with deep compassion. I want a world that honours and celebrates the inherent worth and dignity of every being, and the interconnected web of life, of which we are all a part. I am compelled to live those values, else I cannot demand them of the world.

So this is my journey . . . to be the change I want to see in the world. To live, fully authentically, from a place of compassion and reverence and stewardship for the earth and all the beings on it. And just as my actions send powerful messages, so too do the words that I choose, so I must choose my words mindfully, as I share my journey, so that they too are authentic, inspiring and compassionate.