Originally Posted on 13 August 2014 – By Lauren Kinghorn
As an auditory person, I’ve always been in love with words. Some words grab me by just having a nice or funny ring to them, like the word, imbibe, or, squishy. Two very different words I know – laugh if you must. It’s just that to me these words kind of roll off the tongue in an interesting way. Other words I enjoy, for both their meaning and their sound, like magical, treasure, or precious.
Now that my son is just starting to learn to speak, words have taken on a whole new fascination. And I’ve noticed our boy is fascinated by words and sounds too (and colours and sights and movement and games, and well, pretty much everything, especially anything NEW, anything he hasn’t experienced before).
Ben started out with the usual sounds, Bababa, Mamama and Dadada, but interestingly the first words he said which I’m sure he knew the meaning of were Kitty Cat (which when he says it comes out as Tjikkie Tjet). I know he knows what the words mean because he only says them when he sees the cat walk into the room, whereas Mama and Dada he uses indiscriminately… and it’s quite possible he means FOOD when he says Mum-mum.
As young Ben learns the art of language, I’m reminded of a few words that hold a special place in my heart… starting with Peace be with you.
One of my favourite things that we do in our Communion services at Church is to pass the peace. I wonder if I could start a new movement where this beautiful ritual of passing on the peace accompanied by the words Peace be with you, became our new way of shaking hands to say hello. Much like the equally beautiful word, Namastē, (loosely meaning I see the Divine in you) which has become popular recently as a greeting or as parting words to someone.
Countless books have been written and CD’s have been made of mantras and affirmations. Dr. Wayne Dyer, John Kehoe and Louise Hay have some absolutely brilliant books on the subject.
Two mantras and affirmations I’ve found to work very well in my own life have been:
Give up the idea something is wrong (not sure where I got it)
I like myself (Brian Tracy)
Then there are those who believe that questions hold the most power. Like Byron Katie for example, with her Judge Your Neighbour worksheet followed by the enquiry.
Is it true?
Can you absolutely be sure that it’s true?
How do you react, what happens when you believe that thought?
Who would you be without that thought?
(Whose business are you in? God’s? Theirs? Or Yours?)
Can you find a reason to let go of the thought?
Can you find a (peaceful) reason to hold onto the thought?
I have found Katie’s work to be transformational. It can truly set you free from your stressful thoughts. For more, go to: http://www.thework.com/
Another form of healing work that revolves around words, is EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique. As you say what’s bothering you, you tap on various pressure points on your face and body. Emotions shift from sad to disappointed to angry to happy quicker than with any other technique I’ve come across. As you tap, you can also bring in affirmations such as: I choose to… for example, forgive the person who hurt me and move on, or I open up to the possibility that I could change, or this situation may improve.
Sometimes it’s lyrics in songs that have inspired me. Favourites are:
I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony
Lord Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace (Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi)
Let it be (The Beatles)
And what words can be more powerful and more inspiring when they are said with meaning, than the Ho’oponopono Greeting or Prayer: Thank You, I’m Sorry, Please Forgive Me, I Love You.
