Speech is Golden

As everyday starts with sunrise, everyone’s day starts with ‘speech’. From good morning to good night, one relies upon his speech to continue his journey of life. Effective speech is a magical key which can open many closed doors. Whether it is professional life or personal life, speech matters everywhere.

The usage of words has got an immense impact on the psyche of a person. A word may hurt you, a word may irritate you, and a word may demean you or humiliate you. Or otherwise, a word may inspire you, a word may please you and a word may console you.

The significance of speech in our life is being reflected in most of our epics and literature like Viduraneeti of The Mahabharata, The Bhagavad-Gita, Subhashitalu etc. Subhashita means good speech. They are wise sayings, instructions and stories, either in poetry or in prose composed in Sanskrit language, which is the oldest language in the world and considered as the ‘Mother of all languages’.

“By doing two things, namely, not speaking harsh words and not flattering or giving respect to bad characters, one would shine in this world”. - A quote from Vidura Neeti.

“If we speak good things, we can earn wealth, friends and good relations. But if we speak badly, even death can happen”. - A quote from Subhashitha.

“A virtuous man should avoid speaking harsh words and angry words. If we must speak, speak the truth what is agreeable and in line with morality. Gita says “One who has won the lust and anger in his very life is a happy man. Lust, greed and anger are three gate ways to hell”. Once there was an engineer who used to always shout and scold his wife every day. In that town there came a sanyasi. Having heard about the greatness of the sanyasi, the engineer went and asked him how to get rid of his anger. The sanyasi said, “Whenever you scold your wife, go and hit a nail in the tree at your back yard. Come and meet me after a month”. The engineer was happy and he started hitting nails every day, whenever he scolded his wife. As days passed on, the engineer saw that the count of the nails per day was coming down and some days there was no necessity to hit the nail. One month passed. Now he went back to sanyasi and asked him what to do. The sanyasi said, “My dear child, now go and pluck out the nails”. The engineer went and did the task.

The sanyasi who was with him, told him, “You have now changed and hence, you removed all the nails. But what are you going to do with the holes in the tree?” The engineer understood the point. Words are very powerful than the weapons. Once it enters deep into the heart of man, it is difficult to take it out, unlike arrows from a bow which can be removed. Having known this, and experienced it, we should not shoot harsh words on others”.

A teacher makes an instruction; an administrator (statesman) makes an entreaty; a parent makes a command; a dictator makes a statement; a friend makes a wish; a politician makes a promise; an astrologer makes a prospect and so on and so forth. Every career and profession is intertwined with speech. Despite being careful and conscious while making speech, we often belittle its importance and ignore its usage. The impact is that it yields deplorable consequences.

A speech may be softened with the positive tone for getting things done, like a sugar coated pill; as it is an antidote to many conflicts, which create traumatic conditions in the present society. This attitude can be nourished among the individuals with the collective effort of parents, teachers and society. An event, a career and even a life can be built only with speech. The relationships are being built, survived or shattered because of the words we use.

Many careers select candidates with effective speech; namely teaching, marketing, administration, politics, HR management, hospitality, advocacy, counseling, diplomacy, news reading, anchoring, etc., every sector seeks this trait in its aspirants.

Golden rule to succeed:

Speak the truth; speak with enthusiasm, speak with respect, speak with humility, speak with concern; speak with pleasure; speak with empathy; speak with tact; the world will be yours.