Sticks and Stones Not Required

I am sure many of us remember the phrase “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This was a form of defense we would often use as children to deflect the hurtful words or name calling of our friends or siblings. I can remember myself as a child standing up tall, hands on hips and as straight faced as I could muster, reciting this familiar phrase in response to some derogatory statement. I would be feeling slightly empowered, as I turned on my heels and went storming off in the other direction. Only to find myself a few moments later crying to my parents or my best friend telling them what nasty things so and so said to me.

Experiencing my Belief
I didn’t really believe “that words will never hurt me” because at that moment, emotionally and physically I wasn’t feeling too good. The words were a mask, a shield so to speak, to try and conceal those feelings and my sense of vulnerability.

A New Vision
Sometimes I like to imagine what might have happened in our lives and in our world if we had truly believed in the power behind these words?
I like to think we would be living in a world where there is no war, no hatred, no lack and no dis-ease.
I also like to imagine that we would have quickly learned that we were creators of beauty, harmony and peace and that love blesses everything.

The Power of Words
I know that we would all be neglectful to our own divine truthfulness if we tried to proclaim “I don’t believe in the power of my words.”
Our experiences are a testament to the contrary. We have witnessed how words have shaped our lives, our country, our relationships, our world and our own self images.

We have used language and words to express our gratitude, anger, frustration, discontent, love, forgiveness and joy. We have seen, with our own eyes, how a few words of encouragement can bring a smile to another’s face and empower them to move forward. We have personally experienced the feelings of hurt and appreciation expressed in the words of our loved ones, friends and co-workers.
Words are Powerful and WE KNOW IT.

Our poison doesn’t travel far
What we may have forgotten or overlooked is how the words we speak or the things we think affect our own well-being both physically and emotionally.

A great teacher once said; ‘it is not what you put in to your mouth that will defile you. It’s what comes out of your mouth that defiles you.’
2000 years later, science has confirmed this.

Bring in the Red Cross
It is easy to see how words spoken in anger or without regard can change our over all well- being. Our muscles tighten up. Our stomachs become upset. Our temperature rises. Our hearts beat faster and we often times end up with a terrible headache, along with a few prescriptions for acid reflux, high blood pressure, depression and insomnia.
And if that wasn’t enough! We then find ourselves wrestling with regret, worry of retaliation, and sometimes down right self-loathing. (Now hey, I thought they said words would never hurt me.)
Day after day as we experience varying degrees of dis-contentment our bodies become ravaged and worn, as if we had been in a battle.

Now We're Talking
However, when we compare the energy of words spoken from love, expressing acceptance, encouragement and forgiveness we will notice a different physical reaction.
We stand taller. There is a lightness in our bodies and bounce in our steps. We are calm, poised and centered. Our brains release a chemical that courses through our bodies and we feel good. Feeling good feels so good that it seems impossible to contain it. We radiate with love and acceptance and we want to share more of ourselves with others. We sleep better. We eat better. We move better. We love better. We are better.
And remarkably, as if the Universe has heard our wish, we begin to notice more and more peace and ease manifesting in our lives.
This is Divine!
In the Spirit of Love
Janet