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February 2009 
The impact of our Words
Posted on Oct 11th, 2006
by 
Nina
Nina
Have you lovely people out there, ever thought about the IMPACT our words have on us -consciously and unconsciously?
I just read a scientific test of people coming into a room, answering some questions on a paper and then leaving. Simply and easy.
The questions were neutral -no direct negative or positive meanings whatsoever, but IN the chosen words you had words like "old, wrinkled" and "aged". Now, when people left their WALK was completely different, they WALKED and ACTED like old people; shoulders down, slower pace etc
What had happened was that their UNCONSCIOUS mind had picked up the repeated "signals" and now the person acted out the result.
This is wild.....
I know how important out thoughts are on our mental state and health, but I never realized HOW MUCH.
People often tell me that I'm way TOO positive in my way of being, my reactions and writings (which just make me giggle even more) but it's not only about the words we use, but the impact, music, media and other signals we constantly receive from our surroundings.
I once had a huge discussion about this with a friend who totally loves violent video games and screaming loud heavy metal.
We all live the life we desire and do whatever we want. That's our personal choice completely, the only thing I wanted to tell/show my friend was the immense impact those things have on him.
I guess that we don't always know ourselves, and my friend never knew how aggressive he became after playing another "I'll kick and kill you hard" game.
CAN we realize how we become?
No, -at least not in the minute, we don't because very often the signals and effects STAY in our unconscious mind.
We just don't know.
I almost never watch TV.... First of all I have so many a lot BETTER things to do + I think it's a complete waste of time, but also because I realized how it made me feel;.... tired, apathetic and weak.
Of course we cannot control our surroundings and we cannot constant bathe in the glory of positive rhymes and poetry, but we CAN do an effort to better use our own words and send out more positive and joyful vibrations and energy.
WE decide HOW we want to talk, write and the conscious impact we create from the experience with out surroundings.
We CAN change things, that's totally in our own little personal power. One by one, we are getting there, slowly and steady.
I need you, I really do.
x
I just read a scientific test of people coming into a room, answering some questions on a paper and then leaving. Simply and easy.
The questions were neutral -no direct negative or positive meanings whatsoever, but IN the chosen words you had words like "old, wrinkled" and "aged". Now, when people left their WALK was completely different, they WALKED and ACTED like old people; shoulders down, slower pace etc
What had happened was that their UNCONSCIOUS mind had picked up the repeated "signals" and now the person acted out the result.
This is wild.....
I know how important out thoughts are on our mental state and health, but I never realized HOW MUCH.
People often tell me that I'm way TOO positive in my way of being, my reactions and writings (which just make me giggle even more) but it's not only about the words we use, but the impact, music, media and other signals we constantly receive from our surroundings.
I once had a huge discussion about this with a friend who totally loves violent video games and screaming loud heavy metal.
We all live the life we desire and do whatever we want. That's our personal choice completely, the only thing I wanted to tell/show my friend was the immense impact those things have on him.
I guess that we don't always know ourselves, and my friend never knew how aggressive he became after playing another "I'll kick and kill you hard" game.
CAN we realize how we become?
No, -at least not in the minute, we don't because very often the signals and effects STAY in our unconscious mind.
We just don't know.
I almost never watch TV.... First of all I have so many a lot BETTER things to do + I think it's a complete waste of time, but also because I realized how it made me feel;.... tired, apathetic and weak.
Of course we cannot control our surroundings and we cannot constant bathe in the glory of positive rhymes and poetry, but we CAN do an effort to better use our own words and send out more positive and joyful vibrations and energy.
WE decide HOW we want to talk, write and the conscious impact we create from the experience with out surroundings.
We CAN change things, that's totally in our own little personal power. One by one, we are getting there, slowly and steady.
I need you, I really do.
x
Access: Public
Nina,
Thanks for sharing such profound observations.
Yes, I have often thought of how words can and do affect us. A student and lover of anthropology, not only are words powerful in affecting us, linguistics in general can also affect the way we think and behave. When I switch thought in language, switching to one in particular is noteworthy, my entire thought process and outlook also changes!
We are social creatures, and communication one of the most important cues to which our social senses tune.
Your postive attitude and presence throughout zaadz serve as a reminder to how we make a positive difference to others.
Peace through Strength,
Christopher
Hi Chris, thank you so much for your lovely words!
Funny thing you said about the languages; I daily work in three different languages and I have always believed that we can't really TRANSLATE a language.. We can only LEARN different ones.
A word isn't just a word, it has so many more things BEHIND it, so you don't really translate anything; you just learn how to say the same thing in a different way (does this make sense?! ;o).
Yes, it makes perfect sense (to me, at least). A couple of days ago I “translated” a poem I had written a month or two back.
At first, I could not stand it. The whole THOUGHT and FEELING behind it seemed to not be there anymore.
I tried again. Finally, I got the meaning through. Unfortunately, I could not translate intonation, rhyme, and some idioms. After a day, I re-read the “translation”, and I finally accepted it.
I posted it in my blog, and even gave some comments about the translation. Based on your comments above, I realize I chose “translation” incorrectly. What I should have said, since it is certainly more appropriate, is “I said the same poem in a different way.”
The fact that I had to say it in a different way is perhaps why the English version of “saying it” finally grew on me. A different perspective of the same subject, with nearly the same words, by the same author.
Ah, the beauty of language.
Nicely done and I agree. My TV set servers as a places to watch DVD's or music videos or even yoga, but no the mainstream stuff found on channels. :) Not much a newspaper reader either although I do enjoy the NY times for the book reviews and the photography on some Sundays.
I admire you all that work in several languages a day. I feel I have problems even doing OK with the American English written system.
It is all about choices and how we choice to listen and respond. Thanks for your post.
Namaste'
I am not sure if you have read a book by Don Miguel Ruiz called 'The Four Agreements'. It is about living our life according to four agreements. The first one he labels 'Be impeccable with your word'. Till i read that i did not realise how powerful the word can be. We all need to be made aware of this so we can make the choice to allow these words to affect us or not. Maybe it is because we are all part of this universal energy. Bad words send out negative energy, good words send out positive energy. I believe we have a choice to accept or reject this energy. I also believe if you love yourself totally you will not allow bad words to impact you in a negative way. You will realise that it is that person not being able to deal with their issues in their life. Does this make sense?
By the way if you havent read the book the other 3 agreements are:
Never take things personally.
Never make assumptions.
Always do your best.
Great blog
To quote Laurie Anderson: “Language is a virus.” And it can be positive or negative in its effects. For what it's worth, I love your positivity and find it both energizing and refreshing!
Great post, Nina. I was reading something along the same lines just last night. Our words go out there into the great unconscious, and since it’s all one, those words have an effect on everything and everyone, for good or for ill. I know I still have much work to do on watching what I say or even think.
I “killed my TV” a few years ago, and never looked back. It has liberated me tremendously. I only wish everyone would!
I am reminded by a quote from Gustave Flaubert in Madame Bovary. “Speech acts invariably as an enlarger of sentiments.” The funny part about this quote, is the fact that Flaubert probably never said it quite like that. That's how it was translated into English. I am fascinated how the Bible has gone through so many translations since it was originally written.I am also fascinated how people can sing lyrics to a song, that have no bearing to the original lyrics…it's just a bunch of words they thought they heard. They still love the song, and it rings true for them. Peace, Maze
Loved what Nina wrote. So cool she can laugh when told she's too positive. Touche. Dance away. Some day I wish to laugh at “critiques” too. Presently am sensitive to it and best for me to pause, not react, and dance away! Yes TV is the opiate of the masses. I limit my time to a few favorites like the Gilmore Girls, The Shield and old movies. if I'm not careful, it can suck the life out of me like an alluring drug.
Daisy flur