Think about it. Words, more than any other human faculty, define us. What we say and how we say it is who we are. Angry, hurtful words define an angry, hurtful person. Kind, considerate words define a kind, considerate person.
Consider the unique nature of the tongue. It’s partly hidden and partly revealed. It is usually not seen, but it is heard. Rabbi Yehuda Loeb, known as the Maharal of Prague, explained that God designed the tongue to reflect its function, which is to reveal the hidden self — one’s thoughts, ideas, and personality. The tongue takes these hidden elements from within us, and, through words, brings them into the open.
It is actually a simple principle: If we remove gossip, slander, and negativity from our vocabulary, we automatically and dramatically improve our own lives and the lives of everyone around us.
Rachel Wolchin, a blogger and author, said, “Be mindful when it comes to your words. A string of some that don’t mean much to you, may stick with someone else for a lifetime.”
Judaism teaches that the words we choose determine how we experience life. By taking hold of our power of speech, we take hold of life itself.
During Clean Speech, an awareness month devoted to mindful speech, each one of us can make a real and lasting impact on the way we speak, to dramatically improve our lives and the lives of everyone we connect with.
By familiarizing ourselves with the Torah’s timeless laws of proper speech for just a few minutes each day, we will develop a heightened awareness of the impact of our words. And by continuing the exercise consistently for a month, we can train our tongues to avoid the destructive speech patterns that tear us apart.
Daily To-Do:
Listen to your own words today. Start to develop an ear for the kinds of things you typically say.