Contained Power

Within each of us is a power that can alter activity on the other side of the world. That power is our spoken words. “Speech is power: which should be used to persuade, convert, and compel.”, says  Ralph Waldo Emerson. Our words spoken and unspoken have a tremendous effect on the success and failure of our lives. In the movie called “1000 Words”, Eddie Murphy plays a literary agent named Jack McCall who had one thousand words to use before he would physically die. Even his unspoken words counted against his thousand. He had a high price to pay for the use of his words. Believe it our not our spoken and unspoken words should be limited too because of their power. Martin Luther said it this way, “You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say”. We must take full responsibility for our words if we seek to live successful lives.

3 Power Guides 

1. Bank – A word bank is a place where students keep words they have learned handy  for future references. We all possess a type of word bank in our heads. Our memory bank is constantly being filled with words from our life experiences. Often times we are not aware of the negative words we continue to deposit until time to withdraw. Our word withdrawals can sometimes show up as bullying, put downs, hating on positive situations, etc. We must work to guide what we deposit into our bank.

Focus on being responsible by allowing your word bank to be filled with more positive words than negative. Challenge yourself to withdraw words that  provoke thought, words that encourage, words that will guide those who hear them. When your withdrawals are more positive than negative you can see your contained power impact your world for success.

2. Barricade – Great power is usually protected with a barricade to prevent it from being misused by the uneducated and untrained. When a baby starts to crawl, parents put up barricades to protect the baby from harmful things. (Ex.- Stairs, plugs, cords, bags, etc.) These this are not bad items but can be harmful when used irresponsibility. Our words need barricading. We must work to keep unwanted things from exiting and only allow the valuable things to be put out.  

Barricade your words to reflect what you value. Speak those things that will only promote your long term objectives. Filter out the mess and crud with your barricade. Clean your barricade daily by continuing to reflect on what you are responsible for and build positiveness all around. 

3. Bond – Like it or not we are physical connected (bonded) to our words. Zig Ziglar said it this way, "Life is like an echo. What we send out, comes back. What we sow, we reap. What we give we get. What we see in others, exist in us." Before we speak we must think about the effects our words might have on others and ultimately ourselves.

You are bonded to your words of gossip, rudeness, lying, etc. when they are said they represent you and will always reflect where they came from. Negative words will not bring positive reactions but positive words can bring positive reactions. Work on using the power of your words to reflect you because they are your life bond.

Summary - Dr. Laurence J. Peter says, “Speak when you are angry - and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret.” There is no doubt that there is power in your words. Use them wisely and they can unleash the world. Use them loosely and they can destroy your present and your future. Be responsible by building your word bank with positive words, govern what leaves your mouth, and know that what you We cannot separate ourselves from what we say; therefore, we must use each word responsibly by respecting others feelings, integrity, and privacy. Before we open our mouths, we must ask ourselves if what we are about to say will help or hurt the situation we are faced with. Use your word power wisely and succeed.

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