The Power of Your Words

Words are powerful. What we say to others and even to ourselves has the ability to affect us and those around us more than we may recognize. Are the words you're using daily giving you power or taking your power away?

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I work in an office that I share with two other people. Luckily it is a relaxed environment and we all get along well. The major drawback is that this office has noisy equipment and no windows. As a feeler, being disconnected from the outdoors and the elements can be kind of a drag. The last two weeks has been a huge rain fest, so, today I jumped at the chance to eat lunch outside to enjoy some warm, sunny weather.

I try to practice gratefulness as much as I can so when I am alone, especially in nature, I thank God for the little things. Even more so, after the storm front that moved in with Hurricane Joaquin that devastated Columbia, SC which is close to where I live. After DAYS of the rain and wind that gripped the southeast, I jumped at the chance to enjoy the sunny, warm day with a side of lunch. I went out to the cafeteria patio and posted up, turned my phone off and enjoyed the day. With about five minutes left on my lunch break, a group of young professionals came out. I dare say they were millennials, but the heavy clue was that they used the word “like” every other three to five words (you know what I’m talking about). We exchanged cordial, "I know you work for the same company but have no idea who you are" head nods and salutations; then they sat at the table next to me. Here’s how their conversations went:
Girl: Oh my God, I can't believe the day I'm having. It's like, ruining my life.
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Guy: So why is today ruining your life?

Girl: (cheeky chuckle) Every day is ruining my life

I think to myself, WOW…what a statement! How awful is it that EVERYDAY is ruining her life? After that, I zone out because at that point, I’m like, these folks are not about to like, kill my vibe, like seriously (pun intended).

There are two takeaways from this situation:

1. The woman’s comment could have been genuine as she could really feel that each day that passes and the events encompassed in that day ruin her life. She may have made that comment sarcastically looking for sympathy or just a way to start a conversation. Regardless of her intent, her words were negative. The important thing to remember is that words have power as they feed the actions that we take. If you think and speak negative, you begin to believe your words, placing yourself in a position to make what you speak come to fruition. Some refer to this as a self-fulling prophecy. So basically, If you think it, then speak it, you are likely to believe it and it will be so. Now of course, we won’t always get what we want when we want it and we will have sucky days. Like the theme of many of my other stories, it is crucial for us to take responsibility for our choice to react and how we react to the situation we are presented with. It is important to breathe life into each word that you speak. So the next time a negative thought pops up in your mind about any situation, avoid the negative, find the good in the situation and speak good things about it, because face it, what does being a Debbie Downer or Negative Nate do anyway? Like, nothing! (ok, my last one)
2. I have made a conscious effort to practice gratefulness and positivism throughout my day. Being within earshot of her comments had the potential to insight negative thoughts in me, but I chose not to accept her words and thoughts as my own. She had the right to enjoy her lunch and conversations with her coworkers on the patio as much as I did. What she doesn’t have the rights to my feeling and state of mind, that responsibility is left up to me. NO ONE should ever be that important or have that much power to bring you from the commitment you make to yourself to remain focused on being grateful and at peace…like, NO ONE! (Seriously, last one)