The Power of Words: What You Say and How You Say It

As parents, leaders or friends, we have to be careful with the words we say. Though words can’t physically hurt us, they can do as much damage as any weapon. My mother taught me in my early years to respond to others hurtful words with “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But my mother was wrong; words can hurt. Yes, I know – words cannot hurt me if I don’t allow them to. Paraphrasing Eleanor Roosevelt, no one can make you feel hurt without your permission. Yeah right; easier said than done.

Athletes trash talk to get into the minds of their opponents to gain a competitive edge. During this collegiate football season, it was interesting to watch in the media how some players and coaches were very careful with the words they used to describe their opponents, while others were quite careless. As one sports analyst commented, “You better be careful with what you say, you don’t want to ignite the passions of your opponent.”