Too many words not enough listening..

Lately I have done some reading on the power of words. I have gone through several articles, other blogs, and scripture.
I have been reminded of life lessons I have had to learn the hard way and reminded of illustrations.
Like : If you were to take a tube of tooth paste and squeeze it and have way to much come out , would you be able to put it back to the way it was?
No ,once the paste is out it is impossible to restore to its original form. So is the case with unkind inappropriate words, slander, profanity,etc.
Once it's been said, once it's out there there is no returning the victim to their original form.
What if its a nickname, a friendly banter of jokes? What if you believe the words you have chosen to speak are for the persons own good?
I'm sure there are cases where someones nickname has great comfort and joy. Or jokes among long time friends and family are acceptable.
I'm also sure that I have felt justified in the words I spoke on someones behalf, but with that said I am also that much more sure that I was wrong and I was hurtful and needed to seek much forgiveness.
So whats a person to do when the words we speak or think can be painful ,taken the wrong way or just left out there to be dissected?
The world shows us that we can justify our choice of words based on, what the situation was when we spoke the words, or spin it to show it was taken out of context or provoked by the other person.
How sad.
I struggle with what words to speak daily, and with the world working against me I fear even more for my kids and what must go through there minds on whats right and whats wrong.
Everyone can find justification for the things they say; bad day, headache, just got yelled at by some else, whatever we want I'm sure we could use it to get out of the truth and the truth is that we have to be responsible for the things we say.
The good the bad and the ugly.
We have a place to go for examples of how we can attain words worthy to be heard.
Where the WORD is true and just and powerful enough to change this spirit of mine.
I hope today I am given the chance to listen more and speak less.
The chance to encourage and lift up the people in my life.

Eph:4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.