The Power of Speech

It has been said that everything that we are, stems from our choices. And one of the most direct ways of exercising that power of choice is through our speech. What I speak reflects what is going on inside my mind, and what I speak also has a direct impact on my mind and on the minds of others. In the Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna about the art of knowing when to speak, how to speak, what to speak and even why to speak, and there are a few fundamentals which can always be kept in mind. Choose your wordsIf we blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, more often than not we only succeed in sharing our confusion with others! Many think that the more well-read and learned we are, the greater the repertoire of words and ideas to choose from. That covers only our style of speech. It takes nothing more than discrimination and tact to choose words carefully and wisely. Once we start applying this, it actually becomes a joy to do so. Own your wordsIt is easy to live in one’s skin when we speak the truth, as one doesn’t have to worry about covering up falsehoods. One can be natural, normal and at ease at all times. It is the simplest way to live in comfort and fearlessness. Speaking the truth also gives us credibility and earns us respect. If we are known to be truthful, we can be counted upon and trusted. Our words then have authority. People say, ‘If he/she says so, then it must be so.’ Beautify your wordsOur speech should be pleasant. This is one of the key factors in successful relationships. We can disarm and win over people with sweet words. However, most importantly they should truly be heartfelt and expressed with absolute authenticity, otherwise the truth can easily be exposed because actions speak louder than words. There is never a cause for rude words or verbal abuse. It can only cause harm. Have you noticed how horrible you feel after raising your voice at someone when actually the same words could be conveyed in a much more pleasant way? Even if what needs to be said is difficult to digest, if spoken sweetly it would qualify as half the battle won. Our words should never make anyone feel inferior or less important than us. After all, ‘It is nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.’.Serve with your wordsOur words should be beneficial—to others and to ourselves. In other words, our speech should not cause agitation to anyone. When we speak harshly or when we speak things that don’t benefit anyone, we upset ourselves as well as others. When we speak out of turn, our words may end up causing much damage. Another way of looking at this is that we have a limited number of waking hours in each day, and a certain amount of speaking that we do. We should use that time and those words to help others and ourselves. For example, when we have learnt something inspiring, it would be beneficial to share that. Weigh your wordsWe should think carefully about the types of questions that we ask, for that is also the use of speech. Our questions should also be beneficial. A question which rouses intellectual curiosity is great, but a question which causes agitation, or which is just for effect, is not. Our words should be well-informed. This is only possible when we have informed and proven sources. We can never deliver second-hand information with conviction so we should research the topic in question thoroughly. We should only speak of what we know, rather than delving into topics unknown to us, just to appear knowledgeable or fashionable. Our words hold weight when we speak from the heart, about topics which truly interest and inspire us. Gossip and hear-say is a clear example of un-informed speech. Try this!The best way to know the value of speech is to remain silent for prolonged periods. When it is then time to speak, we won’t be able to say anything random, untruthful, unpleasant, unhelpful or uninformed. It will seem unnecessary.