The Weight of Words: Why Language Matters

Well•ish Living with Dani

I originally sat down this week planning to write about something else entirely. But sometimes our hearts have other plans. Today, mine felt led to talk about language—and the quiet, often underestimated power it carries. I wanted to specifically talk about the power it holds to harm. 

Language shapes culture.

And culture shapes how we treat one another.

Too often, we dismiss words as harmless. We tell ourselves “sticks and stones may break my bones…”—but the truth is, words harm too. They degrade. They dehumanize. They inflame. And when that kind of language becomes commonplace, it quietly shifts behaviors that society finds acceptable.

Why Silence Is Part of the Problem

Language that is ugly, dehumanizing, or dismissive is not harmless. When it becomes normalized, it creates an environment where violence, cruelty, and indifference are easier to justify.

Words don’t exist in a vacuum.

They shape behavior.

And when we look away because something doesn’t affect us personally, we become complicit.

It’s easy to dismiss language that targets groups outside our immediate world. It’s easy to say “not my problem.” But it is our problem—because we are all part of the same society. We are all connected.

One Voice Matters

Here’s what I believe deeply:

Most people are good. Most people want safety, dignity, and peace—for themselves and for others.

But somewhere along the way, an alternate narrative has taken over. Dehumanization has become almost casual. Language has become flippant. And it’s pulling us apart.

Speaking up doesn’t have to be loud or confrontational. Sometimes it’s as simple as saying:

“I don’t appreciate that language.”

That one sentence can stop someone from repeating harm hundreds of times over. It introduces accountability. It reminds them that their words matter.

Yes, it may be uncomfortable.

Yes, it may make others uncomfortable too.

But you are not responsible for protecting someone else from discomfort when harm is being done. We are responsible for protecting the humanity of one another.

A Well•ish Invitation

This week, I don’t have a traditional well•ish experiment, but instead, I offer an invitation:

Take a step back and really listen to the language around you—and the language you use yourself.

Ask:

• Is it kind?
  

• Is it just?
  

• Is it moral?
  

• Does it honor the humanity of others?
  

If you hear dehumanizing language—from friends, family, neighbors, or colleagues—don’t look away.

Change begins one person at a time.

One voice at a time.

One moment of courage at a time.

My hope is that we can choose not to look away from the hard things, and instead move toward each other with accountability, compassion, and courage.

Until next time,

Stay Well•ish.

—Dani