Sticks and Stones

Who remembers the childhood mantra and sometimes playground taunt --

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

I am not sure if that is a phrase that the young people are still saying.  However, I remember it vividly from my childhood (I am dating myself possibly here).

How much we may have reveled in that and taken comfort in the face of adversity or challenging from others.  It was almost like a psychological defense.  Similar to 'I am rubber you are glue, what ever you say bounces off me and sticks to you'.  Ya, that one was a fun one too.

Years, experiences, healing, life, and other events have shifted my perception on the notion of sticks and stones.  From where I sit, it speaks to the impact of physical abuse thinking about how sticks and stones can be used to inflict harm on the other.  It also minimizes the impact of verbal abuse and internalization of messages.  Maybe it should say about words 'words will always hurt me'.  Ok, maybe not ALWAYS and if we are honest, how much of our lives are being run by the words spoken to us.  

You cant do anything right.

You area a disgrace

All you do is mess up

Everything is your fault

The world owes you

You are perfect

 ....................

And the list can grow.  Words, the narratives, the internalized messages that float up to the consciousness from time to time.  And how interesting that when asked about whose voice it is from those messages the usual response is 'Its my voice'.  How deeply these get integrated into our psyche.  

What are the 'words' that keep coming to you?  Whats the message?  How internalized has it become?  How strong is that belief?