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The average person speaks between 7,000 and 20,000 words every day — a steady stream of thoughts, feelings, and observations moving from mind to mouth. Yet rarely do we stop to notice the power they carry. Our language isn’t just a reflection of our thoughts; it shapes them. It shapes how we see ourselves, how we understand others, and how we connect with the world around us.
Over the past few years, I’ve started paying more attention to the words I use — not because I’m trying to be perfect (or politically correct!), but because I’m learning how much language reflects awareness. Mindfulness has shown me that awareness often begins in the smallest moments — even in the words that roll off our tongues without a second thought.
My wife will tell you that I tend to be very organized and structured — I’m definitely a list-maker! For a long time, I used to joke about being “a little OCD” when it came to neatness or planning. But I don’t have obsessive-compulsive disorder — and I’ve come to understand how casually saying that can minimize the very real struggles people face living with it. What started as humor on my part turned into awareness — and that awareness changed my language.
The same goes for words like “handicapped.” I used to hear it all the time growing up, but the more I listened to people with disabilities describe their experiences, the more I realized that word doesn’t honor their humanity. Now I try to use phrases like “person with a disability” — language that centers the person, not the label.
And then there’s “I’m starving.” It’s something I’ve said my whole life when I’m just really hungry. But the truth is, I’ve never faced starvation. Meanwhile, around 733 million people in the world live with hunger as a daily reality. So I’ve started saying “I’m hungry” instead — and I let that small shift remind me to be grateful for something as simple as my next meal.
I’m still catching myself. I’ll still miss things. But mindfulness isn’t about perfection — it’s about noticing. Each time I notice, I get another chance to align my words with awareness and compassion.
In Buddhist practice, this is known as Wise Speech — part of the Eightfold Path. Wise Speech asks that our words be truthful, kind, and spoken at the right time. It’s not about policing language, but about recognizing that speech has energy — it can heal or harm, connect or divide. When we speak with mindfulness, our words begin to reflect presence, empathy, and humility.
Before speaking, I pause and ask: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
The words we use matter because they create the space between us. They can build bridges or widen distance. Mindful language is compassionate language — and that, I think, is the heart of Wise Speech: to speak in a way that lessens suffering, for ourselves and for others.
That pause — that breath before we speak — is where mindfulness begins. 🌿
