WORDS AS EMOTIONS

A few weeks ago, I spoke about the spiritual value of words. In this second in a series about words, I focus on the emotional impact of words. The use of words can have a profound impact on emotions as everyone knows who has ever used words to convey their feelings.

Picture a moment when positive and uplifting words filled your day with joy and happiness. Compliments, encouragement, and expressions of love contributed to your positive emotional experience, creating a ripple effect of beaming rays. We all feel better when someone notices something good in us.

Words convey and share emotions in times of loss, tragedy, or difficulty. Sympathy and empathy expressed through thoughtful words spoken quietly and with care provide a comforting embrace during these challenging moments. Have you ever had a friend or family member who, during a sensitive time, started listing all the ways to change, improve, forget, or deny your feelings? The unsolicited advice is harmful and proves that your words of pain are unheard.

I know that I was one of “those” people constantly offering solutions in my deluded sense of self-importance. Afterward, and in hindsight, it dawned on me that I should’ve shut my mouth, sat there, and quietly listened, which would’ve shown how much I truly cared. Instead, I put my foot in my mouth and created more anxiety in the person I was supposed to care about. Nowadays, I do my utmost NOT to give my opinion in times of pain, uncertainty, and melancholy unless asked explicitly or granted permission to do so, which I ask…