The Healing Power of the Spoken Word

What we say and how we say it can be medicine for those in pain

A mother comforts a child with calming words. Fei Meng

In a recent episode of “American Thought Leaders,” host Jan Jekielek interviewed Dr. Syed Haider. As they discussed the efficacy of ivermectin, the connections between the mind and body, and the importance of lifestyle for health, Dr. Haider mentioned that he and his staff try to communicate with patients in ways that promote confidence and healing. When cautioning about the side effects of drugs such as ivermectin, for example, they’ll say: “Some other people might experience dizziness with ivermectin, but I’m sure you’ll be fine. Like most of my patients, I think you’ll do great.”

Dr. Haider said, “Even these simple changes in the way we communicate can have profound effects on the person who has an illness.”

His words brought on a minor epiphany, opening my eyes once again to what I already knew but had so often failed to practice: How we choose and frame our words can be as important as what we say. Dr. Haider wished to instill confidence and well-being in his patients. How many times, I wondered, has my word choice, tone of voice, or demeanor—a shrug, a casual chuckle—negatively colored my speech? On the other hand, how often had the words of a loved one or an acquaintance unintentionally stung me because of their packaging and delivery?

It then struck me that Dr. Haider’s technique might easily be conveyed beyond a hospital examining room—in the workplace or a marriage, when dealing with children, or conversing at the kitchen table with family and friends. Had we not blurted out some abrupt reply to a question by a fellow worker, had we held our tongues while Uncle Bill ranted about the latest headlines, had we offered kindness rather than snark when our spouse failed to pay a bill on time, we might have brought healing rather than harm.

Of course, my insight was nothing new. It’s as ancient as language itself. The Old Testament’s book of Proverbs, for example, contains several dozen warnings and notes of encouragement about spoken communication, such as “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” and “The tongue has the power of life and death.”

The framework we build around our words also sends a message. A mother comforts a crying child as much by her soothing touch as by verbal affection. The cheery bounce in the step of a fellow employee assigned a task plays a duet to his “I’ll get right to it.” A young checker at the self-service aisle in my local grocery store says “Have a good day” to customers, but it’s her bright eyes and big smile that give a little oomph to their spirits.

Like Dr. Haider with his patients, many online commentators recognize the value of words as instruments of comfort and solace and offer tips to help us in these conversations. Think before you speak, use positive rather than negative words, ask questions, strive to be kind whenever possible, and practice the Golden Rule appear on most of these lists.

Some studies have found that the average person speaks between 7,000 and 10,000 words per day. While it’s true that only a fraction of them are spoken in conversations of consequence, perhaps we should try to multiply these verbal booster shots for the spirit. Most likely, many of our fellow beings are more in need of that tender care than we imagine.

“Kind words,” Mother Teresa once said, “can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” When we choose and offer our words with respect, goodwill, and wisdom, we’re helping, in some small way, to nurse and nurture the little corner of the world we call home.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.