“Don’t ever diminish the power of words. Words move hearts and hearts move limbs.” – Hamza Yusuf

For centuries people of different cultures have realized the power of words.

To start, Miguel de Cervantes, a renowned poet, wrote that wounds from the sword can heal faster than wounds made with words.

In Japan, Shinto followers believe that every word has spiritual power. Whereas the Christian apostle, Paul, wrote, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what helps build others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

In the Judaic spiritual tradition, words have the ultimate power. God creates a world from nothing with just words. Also, in Judaism, words are connected with time. It suggests that the right words could add years to our lives and the wrong ones reduce it.

Islam teaches that our body parts will testify against us on judgment days and that our tongue will be one of the main witnesses. Our tongue will testify what good or bad we make him do. “On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their legs or feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.” (Fussilat 24:24). In the Qur’an 2:263, it also states that “A kind word with forgiveness is better than almsgiving followed by injury.”

In short, it’s no secret that words can heal or have the opposite effect. Moreover, our narratives could change our lives. We tend to become what we think.

Now we have several therapies that use words for healing (from “classical talk therapy” to Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT): to replace unhealthy patterns and limiting beliefs. “Positive self-talk… It’s not about narcissism or deceiving ourselves into thinking inaccurate things. It’s more about showing yourself self-compassion and understanding for who you are and what you’ve been through.” (Dr. Gregory Jantz, 2019).

The good news is that our words are something we are always in control of. Choosing the right words can make all the difference.

For example, we can choose to say “non-thinking mind” or “silent mind.” The former makes it seem impossible to do while the second is more likely achievable.

Words help us to express our emotions and feelings. The wrong word said to another person could break a relationship.

What we may not be aware of is that the same rules apply to our self-talk. Self-talk affects our mental, emotional, and physical health. We must talk to ourselves the same way we would to our best friend, our loved one.

Read More: Why it’s Crucial for Us to Become Our Own Best Friend

There are plenty of publications about self-talk and how to improve it. Our body reacts to our thoughts. It cannot differentiate what is true and what is not. Our thoughts could create a body stress response or assist our body in healing.

Our self-talk, inner voice, and thoughts run through our heads all day. These narratives combine unconscious beliefs and provide a way for the brain to interpret and process daily experiences. Our head is where we spend most of the day, so let’s make it a nice place to be.

Cultivating a positive inner voice is not creating self-deception.

Read More: The Importance of Cultivating Self-Love & Self-Compassion

It’s about recognizing the truth in situations and yourself, understanding that we are all humans and make mistakes. When adverse events or mistakes happen, positive self-talk seeks to bring the positive out of the negative to help us to improve, go further, or move forward. Positive self-talk allows us to discover obscured optimism, hope, and joy in any situation.

Our presence on different social media also has an effect. A recent study of this effect confirmed that posts with positive or negative content influence the spread of similar posts.

Everything we think, say, or write affects us and the world around us. We can choose to share positivity with our family, neighbors, and throughout our network.

“Every thought, every action creates vibrations through this infinite field of consciousness. Be mindful of your thoughts and emotions for their effects are far more potent than you realize.” – Themindsjournal.com

Everything we put in the world has a ripple effect. Let’s pause for a second and think. In what world would we like to live? Do we use social media to vent out or to create a better world?

We all heard the phrase “misery loves company.” Well, the same applies to happiness – it’s contagious.

A study done in 2009 suggests that our happiness not only influences people with whom we are in direct contact but extends up to three degrees of separation. (Dynamic Spread of Happiness in Large Social Network. By J. H. Flowler and N. A. Christakis)

Happiness is an inside job, and our thoughts and words are a big part of it. The energy of our thoughts creates a ripple effect and attracts similar energies. It doesn’t matter of circumstances; we all can find happiness and contribute to the happiness of others.

Read More: 7 Priceless Habits of Genuinely Happy People

Inner peace and happiness are the foundation of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Positive self-talk is hard to maintain in a negative environment. Hence, it’s essential to disconnect and let go of toxic people and situations. We cannot change the people around us, but we can choose the people we want to be around. 

Sometimes to obtain inner peace, we need to let some people go. Disassociating with some people is not selfishness. By preserving your inner peace, you preserve the inner peace of everyone who has daily contact with you. We must let some people go from our lives with love and best wishes. “You are not giving up when you let go; you are moving on. There is a big difference.” ― Catherine Pulsifer.

Remember that the words we choose to use create and reinforce our view of the world. By being more mindful of our self-talk, we restore the inner peace that will positively affect ourselves and the people around us.

Disclaimer: This post is intended only for informational purposes and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

This post was contributed by Roman Vaynshtok. The Founder of the Peace and Balance Reiki Center, he works with individuals who are looking for healing & relief from physical suffering and/or emotional trauma.