Words and thoughts
Our acts can be no wiser than our thoughts. Our thinking can be no wiser than our understanding. - The richest man in Babylon
A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances - James Allen
Mental creation always precedes physical creation. Before a building is physically constructed, there is a blueprint. Your thoughts are the blueprint of your life you are building one day at a time. When you learn to channel your thinking, - both consciously and subconsciously - you create the conditions that make the achievement of your goals inevitable. You are the designer of your destiny. This simple routine will help you crystallize where you want to go, and how you will get there.
There’s a saying (often attributed to various people) which goes something like: “Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions; watch your actions, they become habits; watch your habits, they become character; watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
The stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we are capable of can shape our lives in profound ways.
A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.
The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.
If you can change your mind, you can change your life.
- William James
“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” ― George Orwell
“If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.” ― George Orwell
It’s what is in your head that determines what is in your hands.
Words should be like the stars that never change. They need to be relied upon with as much certainty as the return of the sun or the seasons. - The wisdom of the Native Americans
Good words do not last long unless they amount to something. Sometimes, there is too much talking by men who had no right to talk. This will lead to too many misrepresentations and too many misunderstandings. - The wisdom of the Native Americans
Man was given speech to disguise his thoughts, and words to disguise his eyes. Don’t trust anything, or anyone.
- Charles Talleyrand, From the TV series “Napoleon”
Words
Words are important.
Why are words important?
If you cannot say what you mean, you will never mean what you say and a gentleman should always mean what he says. - from the movie The Last Emperor (1987)
When you are in a conversation with someone, the words you say will determine whether you are included or excluded with them.
How wording things differently effect people’s perspective
Names are important.
When President Bush and Republican congressional leaders decided to try to eliminate the estate tax, they did a very smart thing. They took the advice of some scholars at a conservative think tank and started referring to the estate tax as the “death tax”.
Public perseption of this tax immediately changed. Today, you can spend an hour explaning to a middle- or low-income person how there is absolutely no way his or her estate will have to pay any estate tax, and that person will probably still vote for a politician who says he wants to eliminate the death tax.
Such is the power of a name.
Thoughts
Observe the effects different thoughts have on one’s life. People really do shape their life through their thoughts.
The power of our thoughts may never be measured or appreciated, but we need to be aware of our thoughts and how we express ourselves.
Symbolic Violence with sneaky and surreptitious language
Reading material
See these posts
- https://mindset-notes.explorer436.com/posts/20240919142013-habits_start_your_day_with_fighting_the_top_priority_dragon_first/
- https://mindset-notes.explorer436.com/posts/20231008234143-mental_models_and_framework_thinking/
- https://mindset-notes.explorer436.com/posts/20241108131452-book_the_power_of_positive_thinking/