Perhaps you have heard of this tendency, or perhaps it is more easily recognizable because you have lived it. It is rooted in the neuroscience behind the power of our words and basically says,
” any word we hear, read or speak daily has more truth to us… we don’t care if it is true or false, we believe it.”
Icytales.com “The Power of Words”
Neruoscience supports the power of words, both positive and negative.
Researchers, while monitoring brain responses to auditory and imagined negative words, discovered painful or negative words increase IMP (Implicit Processing). What that means is, negative words release stress and anxiety inducing hormones in subjects. Imagine that now, on a daily basis and its affects upon you, me, us. Those negative words produce not only anxiety and stress in me, but also in the way I see my world. They have built for me the lens through which I see people, events and my world.
” Positive and negative words affect us on a deep psychological level and have significant impact on the outcome of our lives.”
“The Neuroscience Behind Words” – Business Relationship Management Institute
But positive words have effects too, positive effects!
” A single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.”
Dr. Andrew Newberg- “Words Can Change Your Brain”
Dr. Newberg states that exercising positive thoughts can quite literally change one’s reality.
In fact, those positive words and ideas produce not just an illusion of truth, but a positive view of ourselves; and a positive view of ourselves, trains our brain to see good in others, because over time, our brain starts to change. (Dr. Newberg)
There is power in repetition. The more we read, speak or listen to a thing or idea, the more it controls us. Our brain uses repetitive words and phrases to search for meaning and make connections for us. That’s why –
” A repeated weak message is more powerful than a strong message heard only once.”
One single, repeated message can change your mind! (and life)
I know you beleive me. Look into your life and the words that have bombarded you. Look at their affects. Whether it be from a parent, teacher, friend, spouse, pastor…whether it be from the news, government, or CDC. ONE SINGLE, REPEATED MESSAGE CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND.
Words build present and future, but our thoughts are what become our words. That’s why I would like to challenge you to consider your thoughts. Because by exercising consistent, positive thoughts and speech, we change and how we see the world changes.
Therefore, I am calling on you to be intententional about what words you are reading, listening to and speaking. Turn off, shut out, and stop the negative words that have controlled your life. Now is the time. You can do it.
But then, your focus must be shifted to positive words and energy. Here’s a suggestion.
Write these 5 word pairs on a 3×5 card, or post-it. Heck, use several and make more than one. Then place these cards where ever you spend the most time. At your desk, on the bathroom mirror, on the car dash, near the remote control or game controller. Wherever you need to see these positive words repeatedly.
- Authentic and Real
- Honorable and Admirable
- Beautiful and Respectful
- Pure and Holy
- Merciful and Kind
THESE are the words and thoughts that can change your mind, your outlook and world. These repeated messages will cange the way you see yourself and others. By focusing on the positive, the good, real, honorable, beautiful, pure and kind, we will begin to believe those things. It won’t be an illusion. It is truth.
The influences in our society are repeating ideas and words that are becoming reality to some of us. What a tradegy.
But we hold between our ears the world’s most powerful computer with the ability to reframe reality. Words predict behavior. Words become thoughts. Thoughts become actions. Actions become habits.
Let’s take the first steps to begin retraining our brain – away from the negative, ugly and destructive and turning to the positive, beautiful, and hopefilled.
Now, go get those cards or post-its and start that list. 🙂 Today, a new, repeated message begins, because we are thinking on these things, speaking these things, and watching only these types of things. We are shutting out and turning off all other negative words, ideas and influences. We are choosing to focus on those things that are:
- Authentic and Real
- Honorable and Admirable
- Beautiful and Respectful
- Pure and Holy
- Merciful and Kind
This is no illusion of truth, this is the truth.
Cheers to you,
Debbie
Under Debra’s Palm 