The Power of Words

I freely confess that I have had a life-long love affair with words. I fell in love with words by the flickering light of a pine-knot fire. I watched my story-telling father use words to hold the neighbors captive. I learned how to use them from anybody who could teach me.

Words have been used to support and praise me. They have also been used to attack and wound me. But I have never lost faith in their power or their durability.

Words can reveal thoughts, conceal pain, paint dreams, correct errors, and pass along dearly bought lessons to the latest generation. Words can transport knowledge from the past, interpret the present, and speak to the future. Words can build walls between people, or bridges. Words can tear down or build up, wound or heal, tarnish or cleanse.

The ability to use words can endear you to your fellows, win them to your side, and enable you to rise to heights you may now only dream of. That happened to my father's son.

Pursuing the mastery of words is worth all the time, money, and energy that you can muster. And what you invest will be repaid with interest compounded.

Build up your knowledge so that your words are true. Nurture your spirit so that your words are kind, strong, and wise.

The world may little note nor long remember what you say here. And yet it may. For words, once they are released, take on a life of their own, and find lodging in places and hearts you may never know. But after many days, they may return to haunt you, or bless you.

Think carefully before you let them go.

Below is a short piece from the April 2005 issue of The Achievement Digest (TAD):

LINCOLN'S LOG: "Effective Communication"

Lincoln's law partner William Herndon wrote: "He loved the study of grammar, which some think the most arid of subjects."

Actually Lincoln was following the advice of Hugh Blair, whom Lincoln had read, who had written: "He that is learning to arrange his sentences with accuracy and order is learning, at the same time, to think with accuracy and order."

Lincoln read aloud to himself in order to get a feel for the sound and logic of his words, and he wrote out his ideas as a way of arranging his thoughts.

Lincoln was not a good speller, but he took great pains in choosing his words. In one of his debates with Douglas, Lincoln accused his opponent of being sloppy about this. As Lincoln put it, a horse chestnut is not the same as a chestnut horse.

Here again, Lincoln was following Hugh Blair, who wrote: "Hardly in any language are there two words that convey precisely the same idea; a person thoroughly conversant in the propriety of language will always be able to observe something that distinguishes them...The bulk of writers are very apt to confuse them with each other, and to employ them carelessly...Hence a certain mist, and indistinctness, is unwarily thrown over style."

If you are interested in Lincoln's communication techniques, check out the DVD and CD "LINCOLN ON COMMUNICATION." This resource is widely used as a training film for leadership and communication programs.
www.achievementdigest.com/lincoln%20on%20communication.html.

Gene Griessman, ©1995 www.presidentlincoln.com