Words are powerful. You can put people down or lift people up through your words. You can obfuscate or illuminate ideas through your words. You can demotivate people or move them to actions through your words. Words have the power to create and the power to destroy.

Words are not just the combination of sounds that comes out from your mouth. I agree that some speakers are very good in concocting words; some are fast talking machines mouthing words they do not believe in. Some of these words are like bullets that kill even the innocent ones. Most of their words make you feel small and unimportant; maybe because you are not important to them.

So you asked, how to choose the right words? I have three answers. Let me answer first like a salesperson. Before you think about words, be clear first about your objectives. Most likely your objective is to make a sale. But maybe, there are immediate objectives like making people listen to you first and to consider your proposition. Because you want to get their attention, you must use words that appeal to them. If you have already qualified your prospect, you must have known what interest him. Is he interested with more money, or having a happy family, or prestige or the all of these? The right words to your audience are the words they want to hear.

How to choose the right words? The teacher in me will give you this answer. Understand how people learn. Some people are visual learners. Therefore you must color your words. Look for descriptive and vivid words that will make your listeners see your idea. Instead of saying flower, you can be more specific, say three red radiant roses saying “I love you”. There are people who are auditory learners. Use words they can hear. Make your snakes hiss and your goats meeeeeeee. This is easier because people don’t just read you, they can hear you as you produce the sounds. Don’t just say “ he shouted”, instead shout the words (but not too loud!). For the kinesthetic learners, you need to use movement. Grab your dictionary or your thesaurus now. You will find many synonyms of the word “walk”. When you speak, choose the words that describe how the person walks. Of course, you also have to consider the vocabulary of your audience. Understand that some people have only one word for many things, and I am afraid they will understand your one word in many ways. The right words to your audience are the words they understand.

How to choose the right words? Don’t trouble yourself first with your words. I challenge you to examine your heart first. Your mouth speaks the desires of your heart. You can make an effort to “choose” the words that comes out from your mouth, but you cannot control the meanings that comes out from your heart. Do you store poison in your heart? Your words contain vitriols. Your jokes do not just entertain, they kill people slowly. People will laugh, but their souls die slowly. Do you wonder why people go to comedy bars? They laugh while the entertainers called comedians put someone down. And then they will bring with them the same jokes that they have heard.

Do you store love in your heart? Then your words will speak of love.

Do your store wisdom in your heart? Then your words will be made of wisdom.

Do you story faith in your heart? Then your words will be filled with hope.

Do you story charity in your heart? Then your words will lift up people and move your feet to action.

What do you have in your heart? Choose what you place in your heart and your words will speak your meanings. Your heart cannot lie. The right words to your audience, to any kind of audience, are the words that says “ I care” and I speak to you now because I love you.

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