Lets put this in perspective; a forest fire can be started with one match, a large ship can be controlled by a small rudder,  a small rock can cause a great avalanche and the tongue, well it is the deadliest of them all.  The tongue is like fire spreading its deception within the body and influencing the lives around it.  If you think you are living right then pause for a moment and see if your words and thoughts are continually positive and encouraging.  Do you curse others, judge others, blame others, gossip about others, condemn others, if so then the tongue is not working correctly.  If we use the tongue to praise others and then curse others then we are not in alignment.  Think about it,  do good and bad water flow from the same spring, can a well of salty water give good water, can an orange tree produce apples.  No!  So how then can we think we are in balance or living right?  When jealousy, selfishness and bitterness are in the heart then the tongue will emit poisons of lies that will only detour the soul.  

You see its all there in black and white.  If we admit our faults and look for ways to correct them then we can silent the misguided tongue and allow the wisdom of God to start leading our lives.  Gentleness, peace, honesty will be the magnets to lead us in the direction where we can find balance to a better way of living.