Change Your Words, Change Your Life

Have you ever considered the power of your words?

Every word we speak has an energy behind it whether you realize it or not. Many of us are using affirmations and we’re trying to reframe our negativity, but we still get caught in these verbal stories of chaos, and fear, and drama, and judgment, and attack. And the words that we use carry so much energy and so much power.

I’ve been known to quote A Tribe Called Quest when I say, “Occasionally curse to get my point across.” I love a good curse word to emphasize my point but I often lose sight of how the word may resonate energetically. Even if the intentions behind our words are well meaning, the word itself has power. Therefore, we need to start to choose our words more wisely—especially now.

When you’re disagreeing about politics, religion, money, what movie to watch…anything really, it can create a lot of negativity in your relationships. So I often like to suggest that we slow down and take a beat before we speak. I do this with an awesome acronym, W.A.I.T. —“Why Am I Talking?”

In that moment, when I sense that my words could affect others, I silently say W.A.I.T and stop myself before I let my words get the best of me.

REDIRECT AND RANT

After asking yourself to W.A.I.T., the next step is to think about the two Rs.

The first R is to redirect, which would just be simply redirecting the conversation. Like, “Why don’t we focus on what we’re cooking for dinner” or “This funny thing happened with one of the kids today.”

The other R would be to really just let the other person rant. Sometimes people just need to get it out and have a full expression of what they’re feeling. When you let somebody rant, eventually they hear themselves talking and then they’re bored of themselves talking, so they stop.

Try it at your next family function when the tension gets high at the dinner table. I guarantee you (and the whole family) will thank you for it.

RELATED: Release Judgment and Make Peace Your Daily Routine

THE POWER (AND IMPACT) OF OUR WORDS

Several years ago I was looking to buy a new home.It was a stressful time and I went around telling everyone how difficult it was to find a place. So much drama. I started to realize the power of my words—and the fact that they were keeping me stuck in this negative story creating so much more chaos around the real estate experience.

I decided to change my whole conversation and use elevating words. Like, “we are finding creative solutions for our home” and “we are manifesting the home of our wildest dreams.” Changing the dialogue around the conversation allowed me to elevate the energy within that experience.

When we choose empowering words we can redirect our thoughts and energy into a more positive vibration. The same way you’d redirect a negative conversation with a friend, you’ll do this with yourself.

Consciously choosing high vibe words will boost your energy, shift your mood, and open you up to creative possibilities.

I challenge you this week (and beyond), to look at the areas of your life where you may be using a conversation that’s not serving you. Perhaps you’re fearful about the future, or feeling negative about your job, or just frustrated with the way you’re feeling in your body. What words are you using that are contributing to this inner dialogue and the low level vibes and low level energy? Then, start to change the conversation, change the language.

It doesn’t mean that you are faking what you believe. You’re just reaching for words and stories that are more uplifting.. This will shift the language and allow you to lean on a conversation that’s much more energizing.

Get into a space of really owning what it is that you’re saying. Change your story, change your words and you will change your life.