“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.”

A schoolyard chant, intended to neutralise the effect of nasty words that were directed at us, attempting to deny the power of those words.

Alas, that’s much easier said than done, because words, they are oh-so powerful.

But the flip-side of that coin is that the right words, uttered in the right way and at the right time, can uplift a weary soul.

If you love to read, then you know this.

The reason the internet is littered with “inspiring quotes” is because the words matter. They inspire.

For many people they, may be the bane of their Facebook newsfeed’s existence, but I am a huge fan. I’m never satisfied with my own efforts to arrange words in a meaningful and impactful way, so I like to borrow from others. I borrow them and I package them and send them out into the world every Monday morning.

My Thought for the Week always has a central theme, but instead of sharing my own words on the subject, I share those of others. For me, a sentence or two can really pack a powerful punch.

Occasionally I get a reply back from someone telling me they were just the words they needed to hear that day. It always warms the cockles when that happens. It reaffirms to me the power of words to shift a perspective, raise someone’s energy and possibly even initiate healing.

But that’s not why I do it. I do it for myself, really. I usually reach for the thought that serves me well right at that moment—that it may also serve others is a bonus.

One of my all-time favourites, whenever I’m stuck in the “I wish…but it’s not possible” frame of mind is this one from Mike Dooley:

“The best way to live the life of your dreams, is to start living it, at once, to any degree that you possibly can.”

This quote stopped me in my tracks a number of years ago. At the time, I was living in the rat race, dreaming of a much different life in the west of Ireland, but not really seeing it as anything more than a fanciful notion. Those words helped me to start exploring—just in my head to begin with—in what small ways I could start living my dream.

And with the words echoing in my ears, I gradually moved the exploration out of my head. I started from where I was, and baby step by baby step I began to move in the direction I wanted to go in…

I’ve been living in the west of Ireland for five years now. It’s still not the perfect life of my dreams. But it’s a good life, I’m enjoying it and I’m following the trail as it unfolds. Slowly, I’m moving towards the grander vision.

Not all because of a quote. But the quote played an important role in opening my eyes to possibilities. The right sentence at the right time caused an inner shift that helped me shape a new outer reality.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” ~ Leo Buscaglia

That one is an old favourite. I suggest you stick it on your fridge. This gentle reminder might help you to change somebody’s day for the better. Or maybe even their life.

Never underestimate the power of a good quote.

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Editor: Emily Bartran

Photo: Matt/Flickr