James 3:2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

Want to be perfect?
Watch what you say!
Of course, to watch what you say you must control what you think.
You would “bridle your whole body” to do that.
James begins his teaching on the tongue with this, comparing the tongue to bits in a horse’s mouth, a rudder on a ship, and a match.
Big things happen from such small things and the tongue is one of them.
You can build someone up with a word or phrase from the tongue.
“Good job!”
“Thank you!”
“You are kind, you are smart, you are important.”
Likewise, you can hurt someone with a word or phrase from the same tongue.
“What an idiot!”
“What are you? Stupid?”
“You will never amount to anything!”
It seems easier to use the tongue to hurt and because of this, you can forget about being perfect.
No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8
I know when I accepted Jesus as my Savior my language changed quite a bit but even after 47 years, I have to control the negative things my mouth wants to say.