The Power of Words and Thoughts
January 20, 2022
Words are powerful and so are the thoughts that accompany them! Just the other day, I was waiting for a live video to start on YouTube. It was on the political side, and I noticed that there was a lot of chatter going on in the Live Chat box beside the video. It’s my line of work to be curious and to see what is going on in people’s minds and where their thoughts are taking them.
I was shocked and horrified by the comments I was seeing. Let me be very up front here: I almost never listen to or watch the news, and I rarely join group chats online or in social media circles for this very reason. What I saw was not only disturbing but heartbreaking. So many people were throwing out venomous, hate-filled words without fully understanding that the power of their words could literally destroy another human being. By the time I stopped reading the chat comments, I was really upset.
As a hypnotherapist and someone who tries very hard to see the brighter side of life and to believe in the good of people as a whole, I was questioning myself. Why was I so upset by all of this?
The first thing that came to mind is that this is just not the way I care to think about things. My thought processes tend to be very positive and hopeful. Second, it’s troublesome how people can be so hateful, especially in a time of crisis. Finally, it’s simply not fair for people to be spewing out their garbage for all to see and be impacted by. I know we all want a platform to share our feelings, but if you wouldn’t say these things to a person’s face, then you shouldn’t be saying them online.
What the Experts Say
Whether or not you want to believe it, our thoughts and our words do matter. There have been many different studies on this subject, most notably Dr. Masaru Emoto’s The Hidden Messages in Water. Dr. Emoto studied the effect of human thoughts and words on water, finding that water exposed to positive or negative speech created very different ice formations. This video from Science of Miracles illustrates Dr. Emoto’s work well. Truly, what we say and how we say it with our full intentions is a powerful way to affect another.
In “How Our Words Impact Others,” Coach and Podcaster Michael Hyatt said, “Our words carry enormous weight. More than we sometimes think. They often impact people for decades, providing either the courage to press on or one more reason to give up.”
And in “The Scary Power of Negative Words,” Dr. Habib Sadeghi said, “Words have power. Their meaning crystallizes perceptions that shape our beliefs, drive our behavior, and ultimately, create our world. Their power arises from our emotional responses when we read, speak, or hear them. Just say the word ‘fire’ while barbequing, or in the workplace, or in a crowded theater, and you’ll get three completely different but powerful emotional and energetic reactions.”
What Can You Do?
Now for the good part! If you don’t want to end up feeling the way I felt the other day, then start by doing these four things.
#1 Unplug from social media. If you must have social media, choose wisely who you follow. Pick people who are funny, see the bright side of things, and have a positive outlook on life. And if you stay on social media, be the one posting humorous content or sharing your good thoughts and vibes. The world does not need one more person being negative. We need strength, hope, prayers, meditation, and positive thoughts.
#2 Stop spending time and communicating with people who are toxic in their thinking and behavior. Although I would recommend doing this for good, if you aren’t able to, then disassociate for a brief period of time. In our lives, especially during times of crisis,, we need people who can remain calm, who can be a voice of reason, or who can be a source of support to us regardless of our feelings.
#3 If you can be that voice of reason for someone else, please do. I urge you to step outside your comfort zone a little and reach out to people. Check in on them and make sure that those you love and care about are doing okay. Do they need emotional support? Do they need groceries that you could pick up for them? Be the cheerleader if you are able to do so. People need to know that all is going to be okay.
#4 Take the time to grasp the good things that are going on in your life right now, even if it’s something small, like having food on the table, a warm shower, and a clean bed. Even that cup of coffee you make every morning is something to be thankful for. When we practice the power of gratitude or mindfulness, then what we focus on shows up in our reality. The same is true of negativity. If that is all you focus on then that is all that you will see going on in your life.
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To wrap it up:
- Unplug from social media and the news.
- Leave toxic relationships behind for now (or forever if you can).
- Help others if you are able.
- Practice daily gratitude for a better, more hopeful reality.
When we get on the other side of this crisis, we will be glad we responded in a way that makes us proud and was helpful to humanity.
