We often say things in passing, both to ourselves and to others, that can have a really significant impact. Our words are powerful and as soon as we realize this, we’re also able to see how in control of our lives we really are.
Here are 3 reasons you need to start paying attention to the things you say:
1. Your words create your beliefs.
When you vocalize something, whether good or bad, you are telling your brain that is what you want to believe. If you’re fearful of losing your job, agonizing over the possibility of it happening and talking about it nonstop, you’re telling yourself, “Yes, I think I’m going to lose my job.” Therefore, you start to truly believe this terrible thing is going to happen. If you believe it, you will quickly watch it come to fruition.
If you’ve been working towards improving your health, but aren’t seeing immediate results, you may start telling friends how no matter what you do, you can’t shake the pounds. You may say things like, “It’s just hard for me to lose weight” or “My metabolism is just really slow.”
These things are often said with very little thought and aren’t meant to mean anything. But, they actually mean everything. When we say negative things, we’re shaping our minds to believe something unfavorable. Anytime you’re about to say something negative, ask yourself if this is something you really want to believe. If not, don’t say it and begin the process of retraining your brain to focus on what you want.
2. Your words trigger your feelings & actions.
When you repeatedly tell yourself something, you are creating the energy for action. If you’re trying to build a business, but are telling friends about how hard it is, how few businesses actually work out, etc., what kind of actions do you think you’ll be motivated to take? Probably none. Because you’re going to be feeling fearful and doubtful. Your subconscious will be whispering, “What’s the point?” In turn, you constantly voicing your fears will deter you from ever even trying.
Ask yourself, how would a successful business owner speak about their business? How would they feel about their business? And how would they act? People often think that once their successful, they’ll be different. They’ll hold themselves differently and speak differently once they’ve reached their goal. This is actually backwards. You must first speak and act in a way that is successful, before you can see success in your life. You must first become that person in order to see those results.
3. Your words can affect the beliefs of others.
We often share things with family and friends, thinking that we’re helping, when we’re actually hurting. This could be sharing something you read about how difficult it is to have a baby after 35… to your friend who is 34 and not yet married. Or sharing your thoughts on how the stock market is about to crash… to a family member who is already under financial stress. This could even be bragging about how much weight you’ve lost to a friend you know is struggling with their own weight.
It’s important to ask yourself, “Why am I sharing this?” Are you truly being helpful? Or are you actually sparking fear, doubt or anxiety in someone you care about?
This is very tricky, but it’s crucial to increase your awareness and realize how your words affect others. We’re way past “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Often, something we’re saying may appear nice on the surface or we can rationalize it that way, but our intention behind what we’re saying is actually not pure. This can be done consciously or unconsciously, but it does happen.
The next time you’re going to say something that may spark unnecessary negative feelings in another, hold back. You will feel better knowing that you’re providing support and positivity to others by being more intentional with your words. You will also be sparking that compassion and awareness in others.
As soon as you realize the power your words have over your life and the lives of others, you will start paying much greater attention to the things you say. You won’t voice something you don’t want to come to fruition. At first, this can be overwhelming to monitor. But don’t worry, the more you pay attention to your words, the easier it gets to stay positive.
Align your words with what you want to see happen, not what you’re scared of, and big things will happen. Think of your words as a powerful tool that you can use to help shape your beliefs, feelings and actions. The more positive your words, the better you’ll feel and the better you’ll make those around you feel. Words are a powerful tool. Let’s use ‘em.