The Transformative Power of a Few Carefully Chosen Words
I posted my One Word Challenge on Facebook in late 2018, urging people to choose one word to guide them in the new year. I was inspired after reading books like One Word that will change your life and Your One Word - The Powerful Secret of Creating A Business and A Life.
I proposed carefully choosing a single word that would positively impact thoughts, emotions, and behavior. The right word would provide an easy reminder of the desirable trait to be developed.
I picked pause and posted a beautiful reminder on my bathroom mirror. Taking a pause was important to me. It was a way to keep my emotions in check. It allowed time to consider options and possibilities before making a decision. It enabled me to be a better public speaker as I gave the audience time to take in the points I was making. Being conscious of my right word subtly created change on a deep level.
Which Word?
While the global crisis has heightened our concerns about our health and the economy, the right word can keep us calm, focused, and ready to step up for new opportunities. Here are some words that come to mind as we meet the coronavirus challenges.
Hope - "The window through which I glimpse the good that is yet to come." (Our Daily Bread - November-December 2019).
Discipline - This is the "ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it." (Oxford Online Dictionary)
Resilience - Accepting the new normal and making necessary changes will help us to move forward.
If none of the three words resonates with you, take the time to consider one that does.
Affirmations
An affirmation is an empowering statement that can foster or reinforce the desired behavior. You may have noticed the popularity of affirmations. Denzel Washington, Jennifer Lopez, and Oprah Winfrey are just a few of the successful people who use affirmations.
Affirmations have many benefits.
1. Affirmations replace negative thoughts.
2. The statements help you align your thoughts to your values.
3. They help you to live with intention and stay on track so you can achieve your goal.
4. Reinforced affirmations become unconscious empowering beliefs.
Here are samples of affirmative statements. Posting the sentence or carrying it around keeps affirmation in the forefront.
My strength is greater than my struggle.
I find expression for my gifts and talents.
I trust my intuition and judgment.
I make time for the simple pleasures of life.
For those who prefer the visual, the affirmation can include an image.
A Big Idea
Sometimes, many words form an overarching idea, which readjusts our perspective and helps us see our options.
The Power of Words
Words inspire people during terrifying times. We still revere the words spoken by Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King Jr. Currently, individuals like Malala Yousafzal courageously use their voices to create desperately needed change.
Every one of us has the power of words - spoken and unspoken. The words we speak in our minds are our thoughts. When we eliminate our negative thinking, we create positive emotions, destroy our limiting beliefs, and open the way to new possibilities. In this way, we improve our lives and the lives of others.
We are making history today. Let's use the power of thoughts, words, and actions to get us through to the other side of this challenge for our sake and the sake of the world.
