A few weeks ago, I was having a conversation with a friend, and he asked me an interesting question. It was something in the lines of “How does the brain know that it knows the meaning of a word when it is spoken?” I had not considered that thought before then. I thought about it for a bit, and then it clicked…

Our brains do not recognize words in themselves. Instead, they are recognized by the brain based on the images or feelings that we have associated with the words beforehand. So when a word is said (or read), the brain scans its database for the registered interpretation of the word in question. In the absence of any, it returns a “what does it mean?” query.

The Response Cycle

Interestingly, it’s not one-way traffic. The brain runs words against its database to ascertain if it has an entry of its interpretation. The feedback it gets also triggers a response from us. This response is largely dependent on what information we have beforehand associated with the word.

Little wonder why the same word —or group of words— may spark excitement in one person and trigger grief in another. The disparity between both responses to the same word (or sentence) is mostly a result of pre-stored information. The picture painted by the words in question, or the emotions they evoke, sponsor our response.

The Creative Power of Words

“Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble.”

Yehuda Berg

The story of creation gives us insight into the potential power of words to bring things into existence. And although there is a supernatural aspect to God’s finesse in framing the universe with words, it serves as a reference to the potency of words.

Over the years, I have increasingly learned to pay attention to my usage of words. When faced with unpleasant situations, there is an instinctive prompting to speak in line with the negativity. Also, in our interaction with others, we are sometimes tempted to lash out harsh words. However, it is necessary to pause and reflect on the words we speak before letting them roll out.

Words are more powerful than we consider them to be. If only we knew how powerful they are, we would be less carefree with how we make use of them. We often throw words around —towards ourselves and others alike, paying little or no attention to the effect they have on the recipient. Realizing that words are more than just a collection of letters instills an extra layer of consciousness in picking out words.

From the quote at the beginning of this section, it is clear that words can be used constructively or destructively. So when reacting to situations or before you “let them know how you feel”, pause and ask yourself, “Are my words going to help this situation, or will they only serve in hurting the receiver?”, “Is this the best way to express my thoughts, or can I do it more constructively?”. Based on the answers to these questions, you might have to rephrase your intended statement, or better still, hold your peace.

I Am…

One of the most powerful phrases in the English language is “I am…”. Whatever we add to this phrase —positive or negative— defines us. How do you define yourself? What do you say about yourself?

As we go through life, there are times when we encounter negative occurrences. Positive affirmations are our own way of taking control of the situation and defining how things should go. In other words, we use them to call forth things that are not as though they were.

The adverse situations (disappointments, failures, etc.) that we encounter aren’t the final destinations. They are only temporary diversions that we would recover from. However, speaking negatively about such situations is one way to succumb to the situation and seal our fate.

“The tongue can bring death or life…”

Proverbs 18:21a (NLT)

Overwriting Information

Sometimes, I encounter a word for the first time and based on the context it was used, I attach a meaning to it, only to discover at a much later time that the meaning I attached to the word is wrong. On realization, I proceed to edit my vocabulary database to input the new meaning of the word in question.

Just like a computer’s database, the information we associate with words is subject to rewriting. I am constantly rewriting my database with emphasis on words or statements that seem to evoke negative responses. This is more like a defence system. By doing this, I disarm such words and take control of the impact of what others say on my psyche.

Words are like capsules. The outer covering might seem harmless in itself, but its power is in its enclosed substance. Are the capsules you give out serving to heal or poison their recipients?