Word Power

 

For the next several blog entries, I will be sharing my thoughts on how our choice of language affects our moods, attitude, and – ultimately — the level of joy we experience in life.

 

Have you ever heard that the sweetest sound to our ears is our own name? All words, in fact, represent unique vibrations, and trigger a particular feel within us.  Check these out:

• Sex
• Chocolate
• Pissed
• Nudity
• Ferocious

What did you feel when you read these words?  If nothing, go back and read them again slowly – one breath per word.  Perhaps you can now feel something, literally, in your body.  It may be subtle, but there is a movement of energy there.

Whenever we speak, write, read, listen, etc. we’re really conveying and receiving energetic vibrations that exist beyond the words themselves.

Why do vibrations matter?

The law of attraction says that, in life, we attract more of the same vibration we are putting out. Sad vibrations attract more sadness, happy people attract more happiness, etc. Perhaps you know folks who, their whole life, have always been depressed, or always seem in a happy mood.  They’re attracting their life experiences with the vibrations they create.

Whether you believe in the law of attraction or not, though, doesn’t it make sense that we choose words (vibrations) that bring us the greatest joy?

“But…”

If you get nothing else from this blog, I hope you will remember the word “but.” Most of us constantly squash our joy with the word “but.” While “but” is technically considered a conjunction – meaning that it joins together – it actually does the opposite. When we use “but” in a sentence, we are actually asking the listener to ignore whatever came before the word “but.”  For example, suppose I say,

I really like you, but I feel so angry at you today.

Here, the word “but” signals to us that we are not to hang out in the joyful vibration of my liking you. Instead, the “but” directs us to focus on the low vibration of my anger toward you.

Energetically speaking, the word “but” erases everything in the first half of the sentence.

What if we erase negativity, though …wouldn’t that be a good use of “but”?

You clever readers. I hear you thinking, Suppose we just switch the sentence around, like this:

I feel so angry with you today, but I really like you.

This definitely feels like an improvement, doesn’t it?  Indeed, it is. This time, we are erasing the first part of the sentence about anger, and focusing on my affection toward you.  Generally speaking, this sentence would generate higher, happier vibrations for us both.

Nice job!  Wait, though… there’s even more!

So, why go on a “but” diet?

If switching our sentences around like this feels better, isn’t that enough?  No, I say emphatically, it is not.  (Not for me, anyways!) While this switcheroo is an energetic improvement, I want to share with you a secret — one that will bring you even greater joy. This is a secret that all sages, seers, and skilled meditators have known about, and tried to cultivate for millennia.

That’s the good news.  The not-so-good news is that you will have to wait until my next blog.  (I’ve run out of space here.) I’m sorry if that feels like too much of a tease….  It will be worth the wait, though, I promise you!

In the meantime, here’s a little homework treat for you: The next time you’re in a conversation (or eavesdropping on one), keep track of how many “buts” you hear, how many each individual uses, etc.  I guarantee you will be amazed at the number.  (I also challenge you to go a day without using the word.)

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Coming next time: How to move beyond our “buts” ….