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I grew up in a teaching family. My mother, father, grandmother, and 2 more generations devoted their life to teaching school and college-going kids. Ever since I was age 4, I was told that “Pen is the strongest tool to mankind”, and “Pen is more powerful than the sword”. As a small kid, I used to wonder how come a small pen that is easily available, accessible, and usable has such a strong power that it can defeat a sword. Very soon, I realized what it means. The pen has the power to explain the most powerful thing in the world “Word”. Words are our greatest virtue. They have the power to construct or decimate. They can be helpful or hurtful. They can literally change the brain structure depending on the way we use them.

We often hear from life coaches, spiritual leaders, and our teachers the benefits of using positive words. In recent days, there has been a lot of focus on positive parenting, positive management, positive thinking, and overall positive well-being. I wonder, what happens in our brain when we use or hear positive words and how they can affect our personality?

Also, what about when we are not talking to someone but to ourselves? Self-talk – inner speech – recent studies say a lot about the advantages of self-talking. Are there any similarities between self-talk and chatting with others? According to recent studies, there are many similarities. Our brain considers that self-talk is very similar to talking to other people. When we talk, larynx muscles move. It’s been noticed that when we silently talk to ourselves there are noticeable movements in those muscle groups. Broca’s area (the area of the brain that is active when we speak loudly) is also active when we self-talk. In the case of self-talk, our body’s physical activity is similar when we talk to others. In other words, as far as brain activities are concerned, self-talk is not much different from talking to someone else.

Every day thousands of thoughts and words go through our minds. Most of the time we are self-critics. We often use negative self-talk such as “Why do bad things keep on happening to me?”, “It’s so difficult, I can’t do this”, “I don’t have time or experience to do all this”, “The traffic is bad, I am not going to make it on time” etc. All these are fewer examples of our day-to-day negative self-talk which we use without even realizing the damage they are inducing to our personality.

I wonder how our brain reacts to positive and negative words irrespective of talking to ourselves or out loud.

According to the book “Words Can Change Your Brain” when we use positive words, we increase cognitive reasoning and strengthen areas in our frontal lobes. Over time the structure of the thalamus will also change in response to our conscious words, thoughts, and feelings. The longer we focus on positive words, the more effect on other areas of the brain would be noticed.

On the other hand, when we allow ourselves to use negative words, we increase the activity in our amygdala, which causes the release of stress-producing hormones – catecholamines such as epinephrine, and norepinephrine. These hormones circulate in our blood and increase our cortisol levels.

The use of negative words is harmful to our mental and physical health. While talking, we should focus on mindful and conscious words. As our elders used to say, “Think twice before you speak”. We should give careful and clear consideration to every word before we speak, whether in our head or to others.

The use of positive words keeps our anxieties and depression away. It channelizes happy hormones, boosts self-esteem, enhances confidence, and brings out the best in ourselves.

Positive thoughts->Positive speech->Positive Action->Positive Outcome->Happy life.

Stay Positive!

 Thanks

Mridulika