Change Your Words and Change Your World

Have you ever listened to the words people use? Have you noticed that their life experiences are greatly influenced by their word choice?

When I heard this concept of change your words and change your world, I was very curious. I was into the idea that if I was going to change my life, I would have to change what I was thinking—my self-talk. My old self-talk seemed to get me nowhere. I experimented with affirmations. It did help a little; however, the real changes started when I started to listen to what words I was using.

“You Talk When You Cease to Be at Peace with Your Thoughts”

The first thing I noticed was I would ramble on when I was nervous. I remember pasting Khalil Gibran’s quote on my desk calendar. “You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts,” I read it frequently. It helped me more aware of that I was saying.

What Do You Say When You Dislike an Experience with Someone?

Also, I noticed when I disliked something someone did, my vocabulary was critical and judgmental. Most of the time I complained and fussed obsessively to anyone who would listen. I changed that when I made a conscious effort to learn to say how I felt or ask for what I needed directly to the person — in a respectful way. Many times I have heard to, “I would not have said it so nice.”  It was a life-changing experience: communicating directly with people, saying how I felt, and using respectful words.

Intellectual Words versus Word of Love

Words became even more important as I worked to improve my writing. At first, they were words of my mind, my intellect. They were words of analysis and research. They were words that also revealed my character traits which came from my confusion about life — like, “you need to….,” or “you should…”  They revealed someone who needed to be in control to feel safe and someone who was intolerant of another’s journey.

My writing at that time was unclear and generally put people to sleep. Then my vocabulary started to change when God put a mission/purpose in my heart — to find the meaning of love and how to express it. Words like healing and compassion and forgiveness became part of my vocabulary. My writing changed from an intellectual exercise to messages from my heart.

Examine Your Words

I cannot say if it was a new vocabulary that changed my world or if my healing and growing changed my vocabulary. It was probably a little of both. However, what I do know is there are times when you are stuck in your life and one way to bring change is to examine the thoughts and words you think and use frequently.

Question for Reflection

Is there a recent situation with someone that was difficult?

• If so, what thoughts or words struck you the most?
• Were they generous and compassionate?
• Were they critical and judgmental?
• Are these the words you sometimes use to describe yourself?