Belief is powerful. At the root of one’s actions, belief shapes people into who they are. In essays taken from This I Believe, Eve Ensler, author of “The Power and Mystery of Naming Things;” Debbie Hall, author of “The Power of Presence;” and Oscar Hammerstein II, author of “Happy Talk,” discuss how they uncovered sources of power that stemmed from the upholding of their personal beliefs. The authors found that supporting their beliefs could be difficult at times, but taught them a valuable lesson in the end. It is in these experiences that Ensler, Hall, and Hammerstein found unique and important sources of power—the power of words, the power of presence, and the power of attitude, respectively.
While it is frequently said that actions speak louder than words, words still hold power of their own. Eve Ensler believes that words should not have power over people. She feels that people do not verbalize the uncomfortable situations that happen to them. In her essay, “The Power and Mystery of Naming Things,” she brings this negative habit to light, saying, “I believe in naming what’s right in front of us because that is often what is most invisible” (Ensler).
Often, circumstances remain unspoken about, allowing the situations to have power over a person. By affirming that uncomfortable situations exist, one can bring about awareness so that the problem can be resolved. She undergoes a personal change when she openly talks about the abuse she went through as a child. She says, “freedom begins with naming things” (Ensler), and when a person talks about an uncomfortable situation, he or she is free from facing the pain alone. She urges the readers to talk about their stories and take power over words. Interpersonal relationships are deepened by being present to others.
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In “The Power of Presence,” Debbie Hall explains that “presence” is a deeper connection than society is used to, yet it provides a healing unable to be found in any other kind of connection. In general, society believes that doing something is better than being there. Hall negates this belief by saying, “true presence or ‘being with’ another person carries with it a silent power” (Hall). She continues to say that presence can help others carry a personal burden and help them heal. Presence reminds people that they are not truly alone, and can make a difference in their life. Hall is first thrust into being preset when a friend’s mother passed away.
Being there for her friend, although she is not sure if she would even be of any help, provided an emotional support for the friend. Sometimes, being there for a person is more important than doing anything. People have the power to choose their attitudes. To be happy, people must choose an attitude of acceptance towards the world’s imperfections. Oscar Hammerstein insists upon this idea in his essay, “Happy Talk.” He says, “I don’t believe anyone can enjoy living in the world unless he can accept its imperfections” (Hammerstein). The people who are happy accept that life will have its ups and downs, and they still have an optimistic attitude about what is yet to come.
Hammerstein explains that unhappy people are constantly complaining about the world’s flaws, and by doing this, they will be unable to find happiness. By complaining all the time, one forgets about all the good things in life. The imperfections of the world are not keeping people unhappy—our unwillingness to accept that imperfections exist is keeping human beings unhappy. By understanding the positive repercussions that words, presence, and attitude have, one has the capability to bring about positive change to others. In each of their essays, the authors sought to uncover a human truth, and in doing so, found a source of power to help better themselves and others. It is in these sources that all people can learn to improve their interpersonal relationships and become a better version of his or herself.
