Words are as limited and limiting as they are expansive and profound.
They can hurt. Or they can heal.
Depending on the who and the how of their use.
Their own why is otherwise empty
Until we decide whether to take them seriously
Or not seriously enough.
That's why we do well, and don't when we don't
Consider them wisely,
But not so much that
They stifle.
Silence is rich with meaning if you sit with it.
Sometimes words are more noise than is helpful
Wasted tools in the mouths of the careless.
Choose your medicine.
Become familiar with your poison.
Wield or let go.
Be skillful about what and with whom you share.
Reflect before you consume or emit.
Be mindful of the ripple effects,
Of cause and consequence.
Discern the wise direction of your attention
Refrain from muddying the waters of yours and others' heart-mind.
I've been involved in a few conversations and collaborations lately focused on how we communicate, not always so wisely, in terms of self talk and mutually (dis)respectful dialogue. It never ceases to bewilder me how confused and confusing our mutual (mis)understanding can be - and how how much kinder and skillful we can be when we try, when we listen more than we spout. Two simple daily practices that can help:
1) taking control of how we start our days, particularly around what information we allow into the relatively blank canvas of our mindscape. Personally, I don't allow anything in for the first few hours, and the first words tend to come from a book that is helpfully lacking in peripheral distractions, and that's after a period of stillness, silence and settling.
2) in all communications, consider a version of the Dharmic guide to Right Speech - is it true, necessary or kind. In other words, do you really need to say it, is it going to help or harm, or are you going to take up someone's space, time and energy more than will do any good?
Digested read: The world and our minds tend towards being overfull; consider what your words will do before you release them.