A popular saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt
me.” However, that's not quite true. Words have the power to build us up or knock us down. It
doesn't matter whether the words come from someone else or ourselves — the effects (作用) will last long.
We all talk to ourselves sometimes. We are usually too shy to admit (承认) it, though. In fact, we shouldn't be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit.
This “self-talk” helps us encourage ourselves, remember things, solve problems, and calm
ourselves down. We find that as much as 77% of self-talk is likely to be negative (消极的) . So in order to stay positive (积极的) , we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves. We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back. The next time you finish a project, do well in a test or finally clean your room, join me in saying “Good job”.
Often, words come out of our mouths without thinking about the effect they will have. But
we should know that our words cause certain responses (回应) in others. For example, when returning an item to a store, we might use warm, friendly language during the exchange. And the clerk will probably respond in a similar way.
Words have power because of their lasting effect. Many of us regret something we once said. And we remember unkind words said to us. Before speaking, we should always ask ourselves: Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn't pass this test, then it's better left unsaid.
Words have power: both positive and negative. Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively. We can offer hope, build self-esteem (自尊) and encourage others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things. Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours.
