Words

Whether you believe it or not, you speak your life into existence. How often do you pause and really listen to the language you use? Are you AWARE of the words you speak to others or mutter to yourself all day? Words affect behavior, words have a vibration, an energy and a frequency. Have you ever heard of the old phrase, “You live and die by your word?” Well, you can also create, manifest or repel by your word. Ever since I became conscious of this concept, I’ve been both humored and alarmed by the words I choose to speak and think. I noticed I use the word ANNOYING a lot…. Apparently, I am annoyed by something every day. Now that I am keenly mindful that this word is in my heavy rotation, I think it’s time to take it out of my vocabulary library once and for all. How would that shift my energy?? Certainly, it’s better to be placid, idyllic, and laid-back versus annoyed. Contrarily, I also fancy the words FABULOUS and AMAZING. These words feel more fun, lighthearted and joyful. They have a positive vibe. Remember when you were a kid on the playground and someone called you ______ (fat, stupid, ugly, smelly, lame etc.) the knee-jerk phrase was always “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Unfortunately, this is not true. Words have power, and they can in fact hurt you.

In their neuroscience experiment, “Do Words Hurt?” Maria Richter and collaborating scientists monitored subjects’ brain responses to auditory and imagined negative words. During this process, they discovered painful or negative words increase Implicit Processing (IMP) within the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sACC). WHAT??? Put frankly, their study proved that negative words release stress and anxiety-inducing hormones in subjects.

Additionally, a study found increased levels of anxiety in children associated with higher rates of negative self-talk. According to the study’s abstract, “These results suggest negative self-talk plays a role in the generation or maintenance of anxiety in normal children.”

Ultimately, negative words, whether spoken, heard, or thought, not only cause situational stress, but also contribute to long-term anxiety.

In order to quell anxiety and stress, let’s do a fun experiment. Spend an entire day really listening to yourself speak and think. Flag the words and phrases that do not serve you, bring you down, or have a negative connotation. Then write them down and consider flipping the script. Here’s some pleasing wordsmithing below. Feel the energy shift in each example.

This technique can be both cathartic and beneficial to reversing your negative programming and fill your life with new positive energy. Like Henry Ford Said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t YOU’RE RIGHT.” I hope this serves you as it has for me. As always, it’s an Inside-Project.

Suggested Reading: “What to say when you talk to yourself” SHAD HELMSTETTER, PhD.