We can use the power of words to heal or harm depending on our intention. If we want to soothe, support or encourage we use words that are truthful, kind and uplifting. If we want to belittle, manipulate or discourage we use words that are judgmental, invalidating or untruthful.

“Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love,” says Don Miguel Ruiz in his book, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book.

Don Miguel Ruiz offers the First Agreement; Be Impeccable with Your Word, as a tool to help people transform their lives from suffering into peace. As people become conscious of their words, whether spoken, written or thought, they heal themselves and have a positive effect on those around them.

Awareness of the Power of Words

Words are communicated quickly and often without forethought in today’s fast paced world, especially through emails and text messages. How often have you responded to an email out of haste and reactivity, only to wish you had paused before hitting the send button? Once those words are out there, they can’t be taken back. And as we all know, words are powerful.

Words have an energy vibration to them and this affects the sender and receiver. This is why people feel down, depleted or depressed when they focus on the negative side of a person or situation, and feel relieved, uplifted or joyful when they notice the positive qualities of a person or situation. Dr. Masaru Emoto, a renowned scientist and author of the The Hidden Messages in Water, discovered that molecules of water are affected by words, thoughts and feelings. If people send positive, loving words toward a glass of water, either through thoughts, prayer or by writing the words on the glass, the water molecules create beautiful looking crystals when frozen. If the thoughts, prayers or words are hateful or angry, the crystals look ugly and distorted.

Given that our bodies are made mostly of energy and water, imagine the impact our thoughts and words have on our health. And because energy flows easily between people, how are we affecting those around us?

Use Your Words to Heal

Here are four tips for using the power of words to heal instead of harm.

1. Become conscious of your perspective. Notice if you tend to focus on the positive or negative side of people and situations, and then consciously choose to see the good in others, the lessons in life, and opportunities arising out of challenges. Avoid negative gossip and do what you can to stay positive during difficult situations.

2. Shift from judgment to compassion. When you find yourself judging others’ inappropriate behavior, shift from condemning them to having compassion for them. Send forgiving and loving thoughts or prayers of peace and healing to them. You’ll feel better for doing this and so will they.

3. Validate yourself. Instead of berating yourself for not doing something perfectly or for making a mistake, validate that you did the best you could and know that you’ll do better next time. Validate your strengths, skills and talents on a daily basis as a way to stay uplifted.

4. Appreciate your life. Appreciation and gratitude are two high vibrations that help people to stay healthy mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Appreciate your life and everyone in it. Like attracts like so as you focus on what you are grateful for, you’ll attract more of that into your life.

Do you have any questions or other ideas for using the power of words to heal? Please share below.