Some people say “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me” …and I get it. I understand this idea that words don’t matter and I actually disagree. Names do hurt. Words do matter. The sentences you string together and utter to those around you and to your own ears run deep into your soul. Words can create a beautiful world or a painful existence.
5 love languages
There is one theory that humans speak 5 different love languages and show affection through:
- Words of affirmation
- Quality time
- Gifts
- Acts of service
- Physical touch
Some people may lean more towards gift giving to show affection and others physical touch and so on. Generally speaking, people show affection a mix of the 5 different ways. Constantly hearing insults or demeaning chatter can seep into your subconscious and influence beliefs, action and be destructive.
- I encourage you to be around people who lift you with their language and words. Your surroundings matter.
- I also encourage you to speak kind words to yourself. The conversations you have in your head are perhaps the most important conversations you will have in your life.
What words are you using?
Are you lifting yourself up with the company you keep and the words you speak? Or are you beating yourself up constantly with words that cut?
Negative ongoing chatter has the potential to spiral into sadness and if this sadness lasts longer than 2 weeks, there is the risk of depression. This is a depression symptom to look out for.
After 1 year of feeling lousy, I had to consciously make a decision to stop, step out and ask for help. I was sick and tired of feeling like shit! I reached out to my family, my friends, my doctor, my therapist, started researching depression and anxiety like a mad woman and learned a heck of a lot! One of those being that language matters.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
I needed words of affirmations which is part of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. This means I had to relearn and rewire negative thought patterns in my brain. I changed my language from “I suck. Life sucks.” to “I can. I am worthy.” It was a struggle at the time and now feels like less of a chore as mental health maintenance has become part of my daily life. The number 1 affirmation I say regularly is “I am resilient”. I hope you use it! It works!
Wishing you positive words of affirmation! Remember, you are amazing and you are worthy!
Take care, Roxy xx