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Reflections: Words Have Weight…

26/12/2011

“Be careful of the words you say, keep them short and sweet. You never know, from day to day, which ones you’ll have to eat.” Anonymous

Reflections: Words Have Weight... Be Mindful of what you say...

Every day we engage in all sorts of conversations; casual and serious exchanges that are filled with thoughts, ideas, back talk, innuendo and even promises. We use words carefully and sometimes carelessly too. As we wrap up the year and, in some quarters, if tempers flare, it would be wise to be mindful of our words and use them sparingly. Even as we prepare our wish list of resolutions for the coming year, let us weigh our words and make sure that we stand by what we say… otherwise the entire effort would be pointless. No? Where do you find strength? In addition to our spiritual beliefs and our own strength, there is great strength in silence… and reflection. Sometimes, we must swim away. Sometimes, saying less is best.

“Kind words are a creative force, a power that concurs in the building up of all that is good, and energy that showers blessings upon the world.”Β  Lawrence G. Lovasik

Reflections: Words Have Weight... Words have energy...

Words have energy and that energy can be either positive or negative. When we gather in groups at events or even at a beautiful park like the one above; Highline Park in Manhattan, our flow of words, our language, our conversations blend to create a joyful sound or dissonance… Let’s share our words from a place of peace.

“However many holy words you read, However many you speak, What good will they do you, If you do not act on upon them?” Gautama Buddha

Reflections: Words Have Weight... Unclutter the mental stairway...

How many times have we heard the old adage about how our words precede our actions…? For the coming year, lets stand by our words and act on what we commit to do. Of course, when we say less, we have more energy to formulate a cohesive plan to put into action. Holding our tongue is not enough. Uncluttering our mental stairway and periodic moments of silence would do too. There is great strength there. Happy Holidays! πŸ™‚

What are your thoughts? When do you hold your tongue? What words carry the most weight for you? What is the purpose of silence? Do share! Thank you. πŸ˜‰

This post was inspired by a prompt from WP DailyPost: Where do you find strength?

Positive Motivation Tip: Words have tremendous power and we must watch how and when we use them; diplomacy wins friends.

PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos from my Personal Collection.

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. Β©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet

43 Comments leave one →
  1. 26/12/2011 11:16 pm

    A good post!

    Truly, thoughts, words and deeds are energy in motion. πŸ™‚

    • 27/12/2011 7:48 am

      TY for your feedback and Happy Holidays to you too! Will stop by your blog to say hello. πŸ™‚

  2. Bree permalink
    26/12/2011 11:46 pm

    Solid advice, and an important reminder for all of us as we plan New Year celebrations, and finish off the year.
    If we watch our words, we can avoid conflict and start the new year as conscientious peacemakers.
    B

    • 27/12/2011 7:50 am

      Yes indeed. What we say and how we say will make the difference between peace and peril. TY! Happy Holidays! πŸ™‚

  3. 27/12/2011 2:15 am

    Uncluttering our mental stairway:
    periodic moments of silence
    can be creative too.
    +
    Good health to you 2012!

    • 27/12/2011 8:14 am

      TY my friend! Health, uncluttered minds, silence and creativity all important tools for the road in 2012. See you there. πŸ˜‰
      TY! Happy Holidays! πŸ™‚

  4. Savy permalink
    27/12/2011 3:00 am

    Very true.. watching our words and the tone we use to speak it is important…When I find myself about to speak with harshness I hold myself and breath… and observe the going ons inside….
    Happy New year Elizabeth….

    • 27/12/2011 8:13 am

      TY Savy… Breathing deeply and pausing is a great tool. I agree. TY! Happy Holidays! πŸ™‚

  5. 27/12/2011 7:02 am

    In the silence between thoughts . . . we know what we feel.

    • 27/12/2011 8:12 am

      Beautifully said; the silence holds all the answers to our questions…. TY! Happy Holidays! πŸ™‚

  6. 27/12/2011 7:56 am

    Wonderful, Elizabeth. And the message I was getting last night when clicking on your link is gone, so looks like it is fixed. πŸ™‚

    • 27/12/2011 8:09 am

      Phew! TY Kate. You are an angel. I just sent you an update… I must say that my days of sleuthing are fast approaching retirement. However, I appreciate the chance to put heads together to figure out a stinky bug. Thanks again and I believe anyway!TY! Happy Holidays! πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

  7. 27/12/2011 9:42 am

    Have you been the labyrinth in Battery Park? Go to http://www.Caminodepaz.org.
    I had some discretionary funds when I worked in Mott Haven and funded Arrianna to build labyrinths there. She made us a portable labyrinth that we took to health fairs. Labyrinths are a wonderful way to introduce young people to meditation. The rainbow labyrinth in the picture on the Camin de Paz web page was our first and was to be replaced by a permanent one, but think the funding and the interest in that dried up. Sad, but the labyrinth at Battery Park was an outgrowth of the Mott Haven projects so I do feel something enduring and peaceful came out of my years at Mott Haven.

    The kids in Mott Haven often said what was most helpful in their difficult lives was learning to meditate. Helps me stay strong.

    The green line is wonderful, it was just opening when we left the area.

    • 27/12/2011 2:15 pm

      I agree, Katherine, walking a labyrinth is a most wonderful way to enter into the peace of silence. Since we live in a busy, noisy world, silence has become a luxury to almost covet.

      Peace to all!

    • 31/12/2011 11:45 pm

      TY Kath, I will check it out.
      β™₯HAPPY NEW YEAR :-)!

  8. 27/12/2011 10:48 am

    I love the idea of “unflattering the mental stairway.” Mine is so cluttered sometimes that I often trip and nearly tumble down! Using words sparingly, when I speak at least, is also something I should focus on more. Warm wishes from Jamaica for 2012!

    • 31/12/2011 11:47 pm

      Me too… Welcome to the club! β™₯HAPPY NEW YEAR :-)!

  9. 27/12/2011 10:48 am

    I mean “unflattering” not “unflattering”! Where did that come from!

    • 31/12/2011 11:46 pm

      Uncluttering… I know. It happens to me too.TY! πŸ™‚

  10. 27/12/2011 2:16 pm

    Great post, Elizabeth. Warm greetings.

  11. 27/12/2011 4:42 pm

    “Actions speak louder than words” has always been a favourite of mine.

    Words can be uplifting or hurtful and everything in between. Lovely post!

    • 31/12/2011 11:49 pm

      They are powerful and used often to both maim and heal… TY! β™₯HAPPY NEW YEAR :-)!

  12. 27/12/2011 4:59 pm

    Words are powerful both ways, from making a person feel like they are on the top of the world, to being scarred for life.

    • 31/12/2011 11:50 pm

      Exactly and it is used that way by many… TY! β™₯HAPPY NEW YEAR :-)!

  13. 27/12/2011 9:37 pm

    Another good post, its hard thing to do to hold your tongue at times, but sometimes its the best thing to do. something Im truly still working on at time, since I have been told I have way with words. God Bless πŸ™‚

    • 31/12/2011 11:52 pm

      Yes, it is hard but we always commend each other when we hold our tongue. β™₯HAPPY NEW YEAR :-)!

  14. 27/12/2011 11:20 pm

    I try to follow this advice, “If you can’t say something nice… don’t say nothing at all.” I just did a search on the Internet and discovered that this quote was uttered by Thumper in the 1942 “Bambi” movie. Wow! I always thought it was a religious catechism, or something.
    Beautiful photographs and great post! πŸ™‚

    • 31/12/2011 11:54 pm

      Thumper? What a riot. I love that line… Who knew? TY! πŸ˜‰
      β™₯HAPPY NEW YEAR :-)!

  15. 28/12/2011 10:50 am

    Eliz…I am in agreement with you that you must weigh the affect of the words you speak…there is no taking them back once they are out there. However, sometimes you have to speak up and let others know that there words are unacceptable, hurtful or inappropriate. Otherwise they will never know the damage they have caused.

    • 31/12/2011 11:56 pm

      I agree… there is a fine line between speaking up to clear the air and speaking up to pollute it. TY! πŸ™‚ β™₯HAPPY NEW YEAR :-)!

  16. 28/12/2011 3:14 pm

    Words are the subject of my most recent post, although they’re the kinds of words apt to be spoken by little ones!

    Words have been on my mind a lot lately, though. I’m remember a lot of the places I’ve fallen short–especially around the sale of my mom’s house earlier in the year–and hoping I have no such memories to recall at the end of 2012. Or if not “no,” then fewer!

    Happy new year, Elizabeth!

    • 31/12/2011 11:57 pm

      Oh yes, I read that post and chuckled…. You are terrific. πŸ™‚

    • 01/01/2012 12:05 am

      β™₯HAPPY NEW YEAR :-)!

  17. 29/12/2011 1:14 am

    Great Article what can i say excellent πŸ˜‰

    • 01/01/2012 12:01 am

      You are so kind. TY! πŸ™‚ β™₯HAPPY NEW YEAR :-)!

  18. 29/12/2011 2:16 pm

    Re – ‘Words have weight’ – more synchronicity! The memes are at it again – it’s quite a bizarre phenomenon πŸ™‚ Interesting post to challenge the thinking

    Visited and walked the High Line in September – it’s a fabulous space with wonderful perspectives and is contributing greatly to the urban renewal of the area.

    • 01/01/2012 12:02 am

      I love the High Line Park… has its own special brand of energy field too… πŸ™‚

  19. 29/12/2011 6:01 pm

    Words do have power. In this season of elections (both here in Jamaica and the US) where politicians say any and everything to get elected, wonder how weighing our words and making sure that we stand by what we say would play out? Would make for some interesting scenarios, that’s for sure.

    • 01/01/2012 12:03 am

      It would make for loads of amazing scenarios … and then we’d all get bored. πŸ˜†

    • 01/01/2012 12:04 am

      Stay blessed! β™₯HAPPY NEW YEAR :-)!

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