A Word to Hypnotize the World
Words have Power!
If expressed with love and humility, they hold the energy to heal, help, pacify, and humble us. However, when words are associated with disruptive forces, the rage behind them could push the countries at the brim of war.
Gary Chapman in his book, 'Love as a Way of Life' has used a vivid metaphor for words as being either ‘bullets or seeds.' When words are used as bullets, they could destroy the most precious bond, but when they are used as Seeds, they could construct a sound foundation for a vital relationship.
Standup comedian (Late) George Carlin, a keen observer of language, recognized the significance of words like no other. In fact, (I believe) he was the only one who caught Euphemism in business, through generations. Here is an excerpt from his show in the late 1980s.
There is a condition in combat - when a fighting person's nervous system has been snapped or about to snap, can't take any more inputs. In the World War I, that condition was called 'Shell-Shocked.' In the World War II, the same condition was called as 'Battle-Fatigue.' Then in the war in Korea in the 1950s, the very same combat condition was called as 'Operational-Exhaustion.' In the recent war in Vietnam - it was called as 'Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.'
.....noticed the shift and how words could take the life out of life?
My intent is to draw your consideration to a particular word that possesses the power to hypnotize and change lives. It is a familiar sound, our brain knows it, and we have read it umpteen times, but its usage has been extremely confined.
Take a guess.
Please...
Hello..
Yes...
No...
Why..
Thank You...
Though I do not discount the fact that these words are quite powerful, I am looking for something else here. Moreover, since this article is not related to religion and spirituality, the chanting of mantras, slokas, prayers and words associated with them would be out of the scope of our present discussion.
In a recent leadership session with a group of high pots, I asked the same question - Tell me a word that has changed your life in a positive way or you believe has the power to change it. Most of them ended up giving the same answers, and the discussion was restricted to 'Please' and 'Thank You.' It is so ironical that we scarcely use some of the basic words to their strength. It is not our fault; we fail to notice the obvious unless they form an integral part of an important story or an experience.
A few months ago, during the train journey, I met a guy in his mid-30s. He was like any other passenger, but there was something unique that separated him from the rest. He was carrying a bundle of English magazines and thoroughly engrossed in flipping through them. Out of curiosity, I asked him the purpose of carrying so many magazines with him. He spoke with a raw accent, but his communication was immaculate. In a five-minute conversation, I realized his affinity towards a specific word and couldn't stop enquiring about it.
'Is there a reason you focus a lot on this one word in your conversation?' I asked.
'Yes, this word has the power to bring rationality which in turn could bring acceptability,' he replied.
'Rationality? Acceptability? Could you explain it further and in simple ways?' I shot a few more questions since the conversation was becoming complicated.
He smiled and explained, 'Rationality during conversation brings acceptability, and it leads to harmony and balance. We all crave to have a balanced life and relationships, and this word contributes heavily towards it, simple, isn't it?'
Wasn't so for me. 'Could you give me an example?' I asked.
Let me lift the veil from the word and then come to the last part of my conversation with the stranger on the train.
BECAUSE
The stranger gave me a simple example. Let's assume you want a salary hike (a touchy subject always), observe the usage of the word and how it can bring in agreement.
Scenario 1 - I need an increase.
Scenario 2 - I need an increase to meet my expenses.
Scenario 3 - I need an increase BECAUSE I deserve it and am unable to meet my expenses.
The sound of these three sentences are so different; they evoke different emotions. The word brings its hypnotic powers to the reason. It brings compliance and agreement. Using the word “because” followed by a reason results in significantly more understanding. It is true even when the reason is not very compelling.
Recommendation:
Observe your conversations, note how many times you use this word in a day. You would be surprised how ignorant we have been. Bring this word in your challenging and complicated conversations (Spouse/Boss/Girlfriend/Boyfriend) and see what it could do for you.
If expressed with love and humility, they hold the energy to heal, help, pacify, and humble us. However, when words are associated with disruptive forces, the rage behind them could push the countries at the brim of war.
Gary Chapman in his book, 'Love as a Way of Life' has used a vivid metaphor for words as being either ‘bullets or seeds.' When words are used as bullets, they could destroy the most precious bond, but when they are used as Seeds, they could construct a sound foundation for a vital relationship.
Standup comedian (Late) George Carlin, a keen observer of language, recognized the significance of words like no other. In fact, (I believe) he was the only one who caught Euphemism in business, through generations. Here is an excerpt from his show in the late 1980s.
There is a condition in combat - when a fighting person's nervous system has been snapped or about to snap, can't take any more inputs. In the World War I, that condition was called 'Shell-Shocked.' In the World War II, the same condition was called as 'Battle-Fatigue.' Then in the war in Korea in the 1950s, the very same combat condition was called as 'Operational-Exhaustion.' In the recent war in Vietnam - it was called as 'Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.'
.....noticed the shift and how words could take the life out of life?
My intent is to draw your consideration to a particular word that possesses the power to hypnotize and change lives. It is a familiar sound, our brain knows it, and we have read it umpteen times, but its usage has been extremely confined.
Take a guess.
Please...
Hello..
Yes...
No...
Why..
Thank You...
Though I do not discount the fact that these words are quite powerful, I am looking for something else here. Moreover, since this article is not related to religion and spirituality, the chanting of mantras, slokas, prayers and words associated with them would be out of the scope of our present discussion.
In a recent leadership session with a group of high pots, I asked the same question - Tell me a word that has changed your life in a positive way or you believe has the power to change it. Most of them ended up giving the same answers, and the discussion was restricted to 'Please' and 'Thank You.' It is so ironical that we scarcely use some of the basic words to their strength. It is not our fault; we fail to notice the obvious unless they form an integral part of an important story or an experience.
A few months ago, during the train journey, I met a guy in his mid-30s. He was like any other passenger, but there was something unique that separated him from the rest. He was carrying a bundle of English magazines and thoroughly engrossed in flipping through them. Out of curiosity, I asked him the purpose of carrying so many magazines with him. He spoke with a raw accent, but his communication was immaculate. In a five-minute conversation, I realized his affinity towards a specific word and couldn't stop enquiring about it.
'Is there a reason you focus a lot on this one word in your conversation?' I asked.
'Yes, this word has the power to bring rationality which in turn could bring acceptability,' he replied.
'Rationality? Acceptability? Could you explain it further and in simple ways?' I shot a few more questions since the conversation was becoming complicated.
He smiled and explained, 'Rationality during conversation brings acceptability, and it leads to harmony and balance. We all crave to have a balanced life and relationships, and this word contributes heavily towards it, simple, isn't it?'
Wasn't so for me. 'Could you give me an example?' I asked.
Let me lift the veil from the word and then come to the last part of my conversation with the stranger on the train.
BECAUSE
The stranger gave me a simple example. Let's assume you want a salary hike (a touchy subject always), observe the usage of the word and how it can bring in agreement.
Scenario 1 - I need an increase.
Scenario 2 - I need an increase to meet my expenses.
Scenario 3 - I need an increase BECAUSE I deserve it and am unable to meet my expenses.
The sound of these three sentences are so different; they evoke different emotions. The word brings its hypnotic powers to the reason. It brings compliance and agreement. Using the word “because” followed by a reason results in significantly more understanding. It is true even when the reason is not very compelling.
Recommendation:
Observe your conversations, note how many times you use this word in a day. You would be surprised how ignorant we have been. Bring this word in your challenging and complicated conversations (Spouse/Boss/Girlfriend/Boyfriend) and see what it could do for you.
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