The Power of Positive Words

Growing up, we heard the phrase, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all,” which was doled out at the whiff of a negative accusation. If I’m alone in this, y’all haven’t watched enough Full House in your adolescence! Michelle Tanner made it famous and followed it up with a surprisingly colorful statement. I believe even in 2020, this message of speaking positivity holds true.

Wanna know why?

“She quietly expected great things to happen to her, and no doubt that’s one of the reasons they did.”

-Zelda Fitzgerald

 

A dear friend of mine mentioned she tries only to speak positive words.

I was surprised when she told me this because I could immediately think of things I had complained about. While I am a reasonably positive person before this conversation, I have noticed a massive difference in my life just by parsing my words.

I used to have this quote in my house, “If speaking kindly to plants helps them grow, imagine what speaking kindly to humans can do.”

That conversation, along with my path to physical healing, is my daily reminder to speak words of life and not destruction. Scripture says, “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Need a few resources to get started?

1. If you are interested in the science behind this shift in thinking as well as practical steps, I found this Forbes article,

“When there is a substantial increase in the use of positive language, functions in the parietal lobes begin to shift. Those shifts are responsible for creating more positive perceptions overall. It’s also believed that the structure of the thalamus —which is thought to be partly responsible for the way we perceive reality—can actually be altered in response to positive words, thoughts and emotions.

This is all to say that words matter on a level that’s more profound than many of us have even considered. Words touch our mood centers; they affect our emotions and even our bodies.

2. Dr. Hallowell explains why positive words are powerful and what that means in the workplace. You can learn more in his book Shine for an innovative way to approach your career.

3. If you are struggling to get into a positive place on your own, here are 101 Inspirational Words of Encouragement to Lift You Up.

 

You might be wondering why I have paired this message of positivity with photos from a weekend spent jeeping with a friend. I highly encourage this mode of travel by the way!!

I wholeheartedly believe what made cruising so incredibly uplifting, freeing, and carefree was the time spent sitting across the kitchen table, coffee in hand, laying down our fears and concerns together. We approached the day with an encouraging spirit breathing life into each other’s specific struggles. I believe this set the stage for a relaxing day, cruising the backroads, discovering new roads, and making some of our own roads along the way.

This is just one way I have put into practice what I have learned.

I have seen such a tremendous difference in my mood, anxiety levels, and general attitude toward life when I began to sift through my vocabulary and scrutinize its effect.

 

Then, a blogger I follow regularly, who shares my desire for evangelism in daily life, spoke out about her feelings. She shared with a friend the pressure of remaining buoyant despite the circumstances have left her feeling like a failure. He immediately responded with, “Where is that found in scripture? Yes, you will find that scripture speaks about not grumbling and complaining (Philippians 2:14)

However, where does it say we are required to be happy all the time?”

I paused here to reflect on this. Am I putting too much pressure on myself?

She contrasted Paul, who was often imprisoned and ever the optimist to David, often lamenting in Psalms. The point I want to make here is that neither Paul nor David stayed in a negative place for long. Because when we know that Our God knows only how to win, we come away with thinking only Heavenly thoughts; and why should my heart fear what You have defeated? I will trust in You alone!

 

You might be asking yourself, didn’t she just contradict herself? I’m not saying we are going to be positive in every situation. We won’t get it right every time. We are human. Let’s take a step back, breathe, ask God to help us be better the next time, and move forward. Because we are carriers of His Glory and as Christians, we want to align our lives with His mission.

 

Scripture refers to our spiritual lives as healthy and strong when we are in close relationship with Christ, which naturally “bears fruit.’ The power of positive words IS the fruit of that relationship. Yes, it takes work, especially now, but it’s not arduous. It comes; naturally, it is a byproduct of a healthy relationship, and we should get excited about flexing that muscle often.

 

I have meditated on this post. I have prayed and asked God for the right words. I feel posting this puts me in some sort of crosshairs with the devil. To that, I say, “Bring it on!” I know who my Savior is! I know I am His! NO MATTER what is happening in our world, our God will deliver us. I’m writing without fear in my heart and all I want to do, lovely friends is pass that peace onto you. But don’t forget to dig for it, ask God for it.

Thank you for listening, reading, commenting, and messaging.

Until next month,

Xoxo, Klassic Photography