Words and Magic

Words and magic were in the beginning one and the same thing, and even today words retain much of their magical power.
--Sigmund Freud

It's important to acknowledge the truth of Freud's insight. Think of the times when negative and hurtful words have been directed at you. They're like a black magic curse that sticks to you, burns your brain and weakens every bodily strength. Then, recall times when someone reached out to you with affirmation. Suddenly, you are infused with resolve, and joy tickles along all your nerve tracts. Odd as it sounds, we each are magicians, every single day. We can weaken the fiber of our relationships and our world with careless and hurtful speech, or choose the self-discipline of strengthening them, through careful and affirmative words. Even criticism can be spoken in such a way as to constitute encouragement. It's a small but potent way to transform the world, one word at a time.