Speaking from Peace

Mascari, Brooke. September 29th, 2024

The words we say are very important. The impact of our words creates either harmony or hostility. Healing or destruction. Words either build up or tear down.

This article is a short message about the importance of our words and how they impact us and those around us. We sometimes forget our ability to create an environment of love or fear, gratitude or discontent, peace or stress; and we do these things with our words! Our words may be one of our most important and powerful tools.

I am the kind of person who speaks freely, often saying whatever comes to mind as it comes to mind. This can be harmless (and often funny as I stick my foot in my mouth quite a bit!), but it can also be destructive. I have hurt many people in my life unintentionally simply because I haven’t been conscientious of the words I say.

I truly believe that this life has many wonderful purposes, and one of the main purposes is for us to learn, grow, and become the best people we can. Our speech is one of the ways that reveal what’s going on in our hearts, thus revealing how we can best learn, grow, and let go of what’s within us that’s harmful to us or others.

Sometimes when I reflect upon the words I tend to say and the programmed ways I can speak, I learn very much about myself and all the ways I can continue to grow and become a better Being! It can feel overwhelming at times when I so clearly see my shortcomings, but I more importantly feel empowered. Empowered because I know that I can continue to grow, change, learn, heal, be aware, and become more loving every single day.

Our journey towards healing and personal growth certainly should feel empowering as we offer ourselves forgiveness and compassion along the way. It is also important to offer the same forgiveness and compassion to others as we are all on a different journey in life.

Let us take a few mindful moments to tune into and become aware of how we tend to speak. Perhaps there are areas regarding our speech that we are not yet aware of, but could learn and grow in.

The purpose of speaking should be to create happiness and peace for listeners.

Take a few deep breaths and allow your body and mind to settle.

There’s an Arabic proverb that says,

“Before words pass the lips, the first gatekeeper asks, ‘Is it true?’” This alone stops a lot of words. But if our words get past this first gatekeeper, there’s a second that asks, ‘Is it kind?’ And for the words that qualify here too, the last gatekeeper asks, ‘Is it necessary?’”

Is it true?

Is it kind?

Is it necessary?

Imagine how quiet the world would become if everyone followed these guidelines.

Now ask yourself, how conscious are you of what you say?

How often do you stretch the truth to fit your needs?

Are your words always kind?

We can waste a lot of energy with idle gossip and chatter.

How much unnecessary talking do you do?

How we speak is also important. It is very healing to speak with a calm, soft, and pleasant voice; and not just healing for yourself but for others as well.

How we listen is important too. Do you listen carefully when someone is talking to you? Or are you mostly thinking about what you want to say? How often do you interrupt someone before they’re finished speaking?

Can you bring gratitude into every conversation?

Do you say “thank you,” and tell others how much you appreciate them? A kind or reassuring word can make such a difference in someone’s life.

In his book '“Nonviolent Communication,” Marshall Rosenberg explains,

“To restore peace to a situation, it’s important to stick to the facts, tell the other person how you feel, make a request, and never a demand.”

How often do you generalize things like, “You always do this or you never do that?”

Do you expect others to know how you feel?

Have you noticed that if you make a demand, it can cause people to feel hostile?

Do you allow others to share their point of view?

Have the intention to respect whomever you’re talking with. It doesn’t matter if it’s your boss or a beggar in the street; be polite.

Try to choose your words carefully.

If you’re feeling upset, perhaps don’t speak until you allow yourself to calm down.

Speak peacefully and bring joy and happiness to whomever you speak with.

Pope Francis said,

“Rivers don’t drink their water, trees don’t eat their fruit, the sun doesn’t shine on itself, and flowers don’t spread their fragrances for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We’re all born to help each other.”

No matter how difficult it is, life is good when you’re happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.

Your voice is the vehicle for your heart to express itself.

Bring your awareness into the area of your throat.

Repeat these words internally a few times. Three is a good number to repeat a word/intention as the intention can be repeated for the body, mind, and soul; the physical, subtle, and causal body. See or imagine these words purifying and harmonizing your voice.

Kindness

Empathy

Truth

Peace

Now again, repeat these words but imagine them flowing out to the world with every word you speak.

Kindness

Empathy

Truth

Peace

Begin to deepen your breathing and come into the present moment.

Take a few deep breaths into the lower part of your stomach to bring peace and calm into the body.

For the remainder of your day and whenever you can, see if you can follow the advice given in “A Course in Miracles”,

“I will not criticize or condemn or complain. Every decision I make today will be a choice between a grievance or a miracle. I am responsible for everything I see, I choose the feelings that I experience, I set the goals that I will achieve, and everything that seems to happen to me I ask for and receive as I have asked.”

Love and blessings on your journey to higher health,

Havah Holistic Health